Gabriel: It Appears that Luck Is Not on Our Side in Football
Ronnie Gabriel, the coach of Richards Bay, feels that the footballing Gods have forsaken his team.
Richards Bay faced their sixth straight loss against SuperSport United at King Zwelithini Stadium on Friday, a match where they seemed to be in control for most of its duration.
They wasted a penalty chance in the 36th minute when Nkosikhona Ndaba’s poorly taken shot was saved by Thakasani Mbanjwa.
Despite their dominance, Richards Bay fell behind when veteran striker Bradley Grobler netted a precise first-time shot in the 89th minute, allowing the visitors to claim all three points and relieve some pressure from their coach, Gavin Hunt, whose side had been outperformed.
Gabriel reflected on the team’s challenging run: “Experience in this sport teaches us that there are seasons and moments when the odds just don’t favor you,” he acknowledged.
“Perhaps as the season progresses, these moments will start to work in our favor. We must keep believing and trusting that the footballing Gods will eventually smile upon us, allowing us to turn things around and achieve a victory.
“During times like this, yes, things are not aligning for us. Just observe today’s match – we missed a penalty, dominated play, yet they scored late, leaving us without any points.
“It’s a disappointing result, but we need to learn from this experience and enhance our finishing as we prepare for the upcoming match against Golden Arrows.”
Club chairman Sifiso Biyela also praised the team’s performance, calling it their best display of the season.
SuperSport coach Gavin Hunt echoed Gabriel’s sentiments, acknowledging that his team was fortunate to leave with a win. He highlighted the importance of the three points, which provided a measure of relief for his squad.
“It was a challenging match for Bay, but I must commend the playing surface; it was superb,” Hunt stated.
“There were instances when we were just trying to play. For us, tonight was more about securing the result than delivering a spectacular performance.
“Both teams have faced difficulties in achieving victories lately, and there was a certain level of anxiety in our performance.
“Getting the points was vital for both teams, with performance taking a backseat. We were fortunate with the penalty; when we conceded it, I thought, ‘Here we go again’.
“As I mentioned, the main takeaway is the points, which provide us with a bit of a boost and some much-needed breathing space. However, this relief is short-lived as we have another match scheduled this weekend, just like everyone else.”