Richards Bay coach Brandon Truter has outlined the big ambitions for his side ahead of the new Betway Premiership season, set to commence on Saturday (15:00) when they host TS Galaxy at King Zwelithini Stadium. 

Truter returned to the KwaZulu-Natal-based outfit for a second spell last month, succeeding Vusumuzi Vilakazi, after initially coaching the club between July 2018 and September 2019 in the second tier. 

Vilakazi had helped The Natal Rich Boys to retain their top-flight status by winning the relegation/promotion play-offs ahead of Baroka FC and the University of Pretoria. 

This follows a 13th-place finish in their first season in the top flight. Truter was roped in with the ambition to improve the club’s stature under new sponsors Phakwe Gas, who have made an investment worth R100 million, and the former Sekhukhune United coach has explained the challenges of taking over shortly after the relegation scare. 

“I’m hoping we are better prepared, ” Truter said. 

“But finding a team that played in the relegation play-offs and then coming into a preseason without a proper break and taking over from a coach who’s left his imprint on the team, which is not similar to mine, it’s been tough.” 

However, the Richards Bay mentor says he is happy with what he has seen from his players up to date, and the strengthening of the team with more experienced players who will form a core group of the squad. 

“But over the four weeks, I can honestly say there has been progress that I’m happy with, ” said Truter. 

“There have been new additions to the club with the likes of [Thabiso] Kutumela, [Siyethemba] Sithebe, [Thabang] Sibanyoni, Keegan Allan, and [Tlakusani] Mthethwa.”

With new faces brought in to rejuvenate the team, Truter has acknowledged that the expectations will be higher for this season and has revealed that they will be aiming for a top-eight finish in the league or even higher. 

“So, there’s expectations, they don’t want the same situation as last season,” the Bay coach said. 

“Of course, top-eight is a target [because] we are very ambitious as well. Looking a bit higher than eighth position – I think that’s fair on the supporters and my ambitions as well.” 

Article by Trevor Magoro