Ntlonelo Bomelo of Richards Bay FC and Lebohang Nkaki of Polokane City battle it out during their Betway Premiership at King Zwelithini Stadium on Saturday. Photo: BackpagePix
Richards Bay interim coach Ronnie Gabriel believes his side is finally reaping the rewards of weeks of high-level performances after beating Polokwane City.
The Natal Rich Boyz secured back-to-back for the first time this season thanks to second-half goals off two corner kicks and moved up as high as 12th in the Betway Premiership.
Alongside moving five points away from 15th-placed Magesi FC, the KwaZulu-Natal-based club also broke Rise and Shine’s eight-game unbeaten streak, a huge confidence booster for the group.
Richards Bay has lost nine drawn four and won four of their 17 games this season and was being fingered as one of the clubs with a huge possibility to be relegated to the second division.
Ntlonelo Bomelo this boy is a sniper 🔥🔥🤌🏾 2-0 to Richard’s bay wat a talent jus 19 years of age pic.twitter.com/OTXHMK35JT
— uMahlalela 🇿🇦 (@LekoMadlala) February 8, 2025
At the top of the side’s problems was an inability to find the back of the net and they're currently third on the worst scorers in the league having recorded just nine goals in their 17 outings.
However, having collected six out of six points and scored four goals against two of the stingiest defences in their last two games, the future doesn't seem as bleak as before as they sit five points off a top-eight spot.
Speaking after the game in Umlazi, Gabriel expressed that he was relieved to finally see his side benefit from their fine performances having been unlucky in previous matches.
“People didn’t imagine that we would be able to get two wins on the trot,” he said.
“When I kept saying we’re playing well week in and week out and the results were not coming, for someone not watching the game, they would’ve thought I’m saying things to take away the focus.”
He further added: “But it has been this type of performance against the likes of Pirates, Sundowns ... the big teams and we also dropped points against SuperSport in the last minute.”
Man of the Match: Tlakusani Mthethwa 🏆 pic.twitter.com/biJuzTJSYn
— Richards Bay FC (@RichardsBayFC_) February 8, 2025
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This group is playing good football, they’re high-tempo football and we’re getting on the front foot, gaining ascendancy and creating numerous chances but our conversion rate was not where it was supposed to be.”
One man who has benefited from Richards Bay’s chance creation is 19-year-old striker Ntlonelo Bomelo, who has found the net in back-to-back games.
The top scorer in the DStv Diski Challenge last season, Bomelo has bided his time and played second fiddle to the likes of Yanela Mbuthuma and Thabang Sibanyoni this season. But Mbuthuma’s red card against Gallants means Bomelo received his chance and has run with it.
“I’ve said it in the past as well, Bomelo is a predatory striker, a classy striker in the box,” was Gabriel’s assessment of the teenager.
“He’s got the composure and calmness to put the ball in the back of the net and also the football intelligence to position himself in the right place at the right moment.”
“It was always about putting him in at the right time because we didn’t want to throw him into the deep end so he has an optimal chance of flourishing.”