Ronnie Gabriel, the coach of Richards Bay, believes that the footballing Gods have turned their backs on his team.

Richards Bay suffered their sixth consecutive defeat against SuperSport United at King Zwelithini Stadium on Friday, a game they appeared to dominate for a significant portion.

They squandered a penalty opportunity in the 36th minute when Nkosikhona Ndaba’s poorly executed shot was saved by Thakasani Mbanjwa.

Despite their control over the match, Richards Bay fell behind when experienced forward Bradley Grobler scored with a precise first-time shot in the 89th minute, allowing the visitors to secure all three points and provide some respite for their coach, Gavin Hunt, whose team had been outplayed.

Gabriel reflected on the team’s tough streak: “Experience in this sport teaches us that there are seasons and moments when luck just isn’t on your side,” he remarked.

“As the season moves forward, it’s possible that these situations may start to tilt in our favor. We must continue to have faith and trust that the footballing Gods will eventually smile upon us, enabling us to turn things around and secure a win.

“In moments like these, things aren’t aligning for us. Just look at today’s match – we missed a penalty, played well, but conceded late, ending up with no points.

“It’s a frustrating result, but we need to learn from this experience and improve our finishing as we gear up for the upcoming match against Golden Arrows.”

Club chairman Sifiso Biyela also commended the team’s effort, labeling it their strongest performance of the season.

SuperSport coach Gavin Hunt echoed Gabriel’s thoughts, admitting that his team was lucky to secure a win. He emphasized the significance of the three points, which offered a measure of relief for his squad.

“It was a tough match for Bay, but I must praise the pitch; it was excellent,” Hunt noted.

“There were moments when we were just trying to find our rhythm. For us, tonight was more about obtaining the result rather than showcasing an impressive performance.

“Both teams have struggled to achieve victories recently, and there was a certain level of tension in our gameplay.

“Collecting points was crucial for both teams, with performance taking a backseat. We were fortunate with the penalty; when we gave it away, my thought was, ‘Here we go again’.

“Ultimately, the key takeaway is the points, which give us a little boost and some necessary breathing room. However, this relief is short-lived as we have another match coming up this weekend, just like everyone else.”