Richards Bay coach Brandon Truter has welcomed the MTN8 final and the upcoming FIFA international break as an opportunity to solidify his team’s playing style and identity.

With no league matches this weekend and the MTN8 final between Orlando Pirates and Stellenbosch scheduled for Saturday, Truter will have a chance to focus on training and implementing his tactical ideas.

After that, it will be the resumption of international football as Bafana Bafana will resume their Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Congo, with matches taking place on 11 October at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium and four days later at Stade Alphonse Massamba-Débat (Brazzaville).

Truter, who took over as Richards Bay coach at the start of the season, has faced challenges with his team’s recent form. They have gone three matches without scoring, including a 1-0 defeat to Pirates this past weekend.

The coach believes the FIFA break can be beneficial for building a consistent playing style and team culture: “It’s four games, it’s 4-3-3 playing style, it’s 4-3-2-1 playing style, we need to settle one,” said Truter. 

“So, we need to create the identity as well. At the moment we are playing, but we are reacting to opponents. 

“During this FIFA break, maybe we have to build a culture, playing model and bit of consistency.”

The Natal Rich Boyz currently sits in 10th place in the Betway Premiership table. After the international break, they will face Stellenbosch at King Zwelithini Stadium on Friday, 25 October.