Richards Bay head coach Vusi Vilakazi has made a bold claim that his side will be competitive this coming season and will definitely be in the top eight.
Vilakazi joined the KZN side in December last year after finding the side languishing in the danger zone. He managed to turn the club’s fortunes around and saved them from the drop via the PSL/promotional playoffs.
‘Kanu’ was rewarded with a two-year contract for his efforts of saving the team, and chatting to iDiski Times senior writer, Velile Mnyandu in edition 165 of the newspaper, the 41-year-old mentor said his aim is to compete for everything that’s on offer, adding that a top eight finish is not a tough as standard task.
“We want to start the season now fairly with other teams in terms of competing” Kanu told iDiski Times.
“So we want to challenge for all the competitions available. Not only to participate but to win because in football, anything is possible if you work hard and smartly, you’re bound to achieve what you want.
“[But] that one, top eight, we will definitely be there. Maybe if he tells us that our mandate is to get into the top four (Chuckles) but not the top eight, we need to be there.”
The Natal Rich Boys secured a sponsorship ahead of the 2024/25 Betway Premiership season said to be valued at R100m from Phakwe Group, with R60m going directly to the club for the next three terms. The sponsors have challenged the team to get into the top four, and Vilakazi believes it’s possible though he simultaneously warned it’s early days for such a big ask from the sponsors.
“Maybe, the top four is also possible,” added Vilakazi.
“Yes, but I think he must also take into consideration that this will be the first season for Richards Bay to fully challenge in terms of making sure that they have a productive squad that can emerge or try to compete for top four. I would say it’s still early for him to ask for the top four but the top eight definitely, we will make sure we achieve it.”
