Richards Bay co-coach Ronnie Gabriel acknowledges the significant challenges he faces compared to Mamelodi Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso, whose team boasts a squad of high-quality players often developed elsewhere.

Gabriel explained that at Richards Bay, they must invest significantly more effort in every aspect of the game to improve their players while simultaneously analyzing and adapting to their opponents’ tactics, effectively doubling their workload.

Gabriel made these comments after a spirited but ultimately unsuccessful 2-0 defeat against Sundowns in a Betway Premiership match at King Zwelithini Stadium on Saturday. Richards Bay has a poor record against Sundowns in the PSL, having never secured a win or a draw in their previous encounters.

“Final third quality, players who can put the ball in the back of the net, scoring more often, that’s where we are lacking,” said Gabriel. 

“We have to continue to work. Remember this group of players, we got to be very honest to ourselves. As you said, we have a lot of youngsters in the side and you look at where they came from and what is the blue print of the club, we need to coach the youngsters. 

“We don’t have the already-made talent, we don’t have Ribeiro, we don’t have Sales, you name the galaxy of stars that they have.  

“You just put them in there and they bring the results for you nothing, out of the moment of brilliant, we have to coach these boys, it is hard work on a daily basis. 

“We have to create training sessions to replicate the pressure of the game, create sessions whereby there is more goal-scoring opportunities, giving them more situation that presents itself. 

“So, we are coaches who develop, who make the players top out there. 

“Sundowns have players of galaxy and they can pick players everywhere. Everyone comes in there; they can do their own thing on the pitch.   

“That is the difference between us and Sundowns. We got players who have to coach, to answer your question. We have to coach, we have to continue with many repetitions, we have to work hard with them day in and day out. 

“They have to follow the specific programs and the finished product will end up coming. So, it’s a process.”  

The brilliance of Sundowns’ star players was evident in their victory. Lucas Ribeiro Costa assisted his compatriot Arthur Sales for the first goal in the first half. Costa then doubled Sundowns’ lead with a well-placed shot from the edge of the box in the second half, without the need for a significant increase in their effort.

While Sundowns maintained their position at the top of the table, Richards Bay remains second from bottom with eight points from 12 matches, having played three more games than bottom-placed Magesi FC. The Limpopo side will face second-placed Orlando Pirates at Old Peter Mokaba Stadium on Sunday (15:30).