Richards Bay caretaker coach Vusi Vilakazi says before the win over SuperSport United, the Africa Cup of Nations finals break was something he was looking forward to fixing so many things, but when they won, he had other ideas.
Vilakazi admitted that he would have wanted to have continued to play since they won to build the momentum and climb away from the dreaded bottom zone they find themselves in the DStv Premiership table.
Richards Bay is second-from-bottom with 13 points after 16 matches played, with the win over SuperSport this past weekend just their third this season.
The win against Gavin Hunt’s side came in what was the first game in charge for Vilakazi, who had replaced Kaitano Tembo for the time being, as it was revealed by the club on 25 December.
Vilakazi, having won where they came from behind, would have wanted to continue to play but still welcomes the AFCON break to make a few adjustments in the side to claw them away from the bottom part of the table
“I will be honest with you, that was not the wish before the game (to continue playing but now it is),” said Vilakazi.
“It can be now because we have won. But we needed the break because we wanted to fix some of the things. After all, the team right now is not at the level that we want to see.
“We still need to work very hard, so this AFCON break gives us time with the squad to work on other things and beef up the squad because the squad is very thin.”
Vilakazi was initially appointed as a senior club coach in November after he had left Chippa United where he was the technical director.
This after he had resigned at Golden Arrows in September. He said the belief was not there due to the struggle to get positive results.
“I think believing in themselves, that was the problem,” said Vilakazi.
“Obviously with our previous coach as well, you cannot blame him because the results were not coming. So, you may find that he was also affected by that.
“I will bear with him on that, but he has played a role in the results that we have. I think going forward, we just must maintain they are happy at all times.”
Bay will resume the fight for survival when they visit Polokwane City on 14 February at Old Peter Mokaba Stadium.
