Latest news with #KZNPremiersCup
IOL News
05-08-2025
- Sport
- IOL News
Richards Bay's long-awaited uMhlathuze return delayed by damaged pitch
Richards Bay were crowned champions of the 2025 KZN Premiers Cup at Umhlathuze Sports Complex, in Richards Bay, at the end of last month. Photo: BackpagePix Image: BackpagePix Richards Bay FC's long-awaited return to their true home in uMhlathuze has been put on hold, just days before the start of the new Betway Premiership season. After spending their first three seasons in the top flight playing out of the King Zwelithini Stadium in Umlazi, the Natal Rich Boyz were finally set to host matches at the newly refurbished uMhlathuze Stadium — starting with a home opener against Marumo Gallants on Saturday. However, that emotional comeback has now been delayed. The club confirmed on Monday that the fixture will be moved to a different venue following significant damage to the pitch during the KZN Premier's Cup last weekend, where heavy rain left the surface unplayable. 'Following a tough KZN Premier's Cup contested over rain-sodden days last weekend, the uMhlathuze Stadium playing surface faced significant damage and that has necessitated a change of venue to allow sufficient time for remedial action to be completed,' the club said in a statement. mina I'm suggesting you don't play any games there until the pitch matter is resolved to avoid issuing endless statements, was there before premiers cup and i noticed that the grass will not hold frequent matches. best thing to do now is to start over the pitch. — anthu (@abantuq) August 4, 2025 Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad Loading It's an unfortunate twist for the coastal outfit, who not only won the pre-season competition with a win over Durban City but also used the occasion to mark the symbolic reopening of the stadium they consider home. City of uMhlathuze officials and the appointed contractors are said to be working tirelessly to ensure the pitch is ready by the time Richards Bay host Chippa United on 26 August. The unexpected venue switch throws a spanner in the works for co-coaches Ronnie Gabriel and Papi Zothwane, who had hoped to ride the wave of momentum into the opening weekend. The pair have already started shaping a competitive squad with new additions and will be eager to start the campaign on a high—even if it means doing so away from their fanbase. Supporters, who had been eagerly anticipating the return of elite football to uMhlathuze for the first time in over three years, will now have to wait a few more weeks to see their team in action at home. 'We apologise to our supporters who have been anticipating with excitement to see their heroes in action at home, but we could not allow further damage to the playing surface,' the club added. An alternative venue for the clash against Gallants will be announced in due course which is expected to be a return to Umlazi as per the PSL fixture.
IOL News
27-07-2025
- Sport
- IOL News
Richards Bay FC lift KZN Premier's Cup title in homecoming triumph
Wandile Ngema of Richards Bay is challenged by Sibusiso Sibeko of Durban City during the KZN Premiers Cup final at Umhlathuze Sports Complex in Richards Bay on SUnday. Photo: BackpagePix Image: Backpagepix Richards Bay FC marked the official reopening of the refurbished Umhlathuze Sports Complex in style, clinching the 2025 KZN Premier's Cup title with a narrow 1-0 win over Durban City in Sunday's final. It was a historic first for the Natal Rich Boyz, who have never lifted the pre-season trophy before and fittingly did so on home soil, signalling their intent ahead of the new Betway Premiership campaign. The two-day tournament not only served as a curtain-raiser to the upcoming season but also celebrated the revamped facilities in northern KwaZulu-Natal, which the Bay will now call home throughout 2025/26. Their path to glory included overcoming Midlands in the semi-final, before seeing off a determined Durban City side who had earlier stunned AmaZulu in dramatic fashion. Usuthu were knocked out in agonising fashion, conceding a late goal to lose 3-2 in an end-to-end semi-final that could have gone either way. Despite the result, assistant coach Siboniso Vilakazi was content with the side's progress. 'From our side, we're very excited by what we've seen, especially from the youngsters. We wanted to play more than one game so that every player gets an opportunity to play,' Vilakazi said. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ He added that the tournament was vital preparation ahead of their MTN8 quarter-final: 'We're working towards our MTN8 match next week as well as the start of the new season. "We have a way forward with a lot of players having left the club, some returning from loan, and others arriving. So for us, this was a successful experience and we're pleased with what we've done here.' Arrows, meanwhile, were bundled out early after a 3-2 quarter-final defeat to AmaZulu in a fiercely contested derby. Despite the result, assistant coach Musa Bilankulu praised the application of his players, particularly the new recruits adapting to their tactical approach. 'In terms of our preparations for the game, we expected it to be tough in all areas — on and off the ball. The players stuck to the tactical agreements we had prior to the game and I was even more impressed with the new signings,' said Bilankulu. While the day belonged to Richards Bay, the tournament offered valuable insight into the readiness of KZN's top sides before the competitive action resumes in August. For coach Ronnie Gabriel and his team, lifting silverware on home turf could just be the spark needed for a season to remember.
