Richards Bay coach Vusi Vilakazi emphasized the importance of maintaining the gap between his team and bottom-placed Cape Town Spurs. With five games remaining in the season, the gap had narrowed to five points.

Bay suffered a crucial defeat against Spurs at Athlone Stadium on Friday night, ending Spurs’ four-game losing streak. Conversely, Bay entered the match having won their previous two games, bolstering their chances of survival and distancing themselves from the relegation zone.

“Obviously, we now need to maintain this five-point gap and ensure it stays that way, or even increase it moving forward,” asserted the 41-year-old coach.

If Bay remains in 15th position by season’s end, their fate will be decided in the PSL promotional playoffs. Vilakazi urged his team to “trust the process” as the season nears its conclusion.

“We just need to stay focused and maintain a positive mindset, trusting and believing in the process that will lead to our survival,” pleaded Vilakazi.

Vilakazi analyzed his team’s performance on the day.

“I was happy with the effort, even though we didn’t start well in terms of protecting the ball and maintaining possession,” Vilakazi elaborated.

The former Golden Arrows manager believes his team did not deserve to lose all three points in Cape Town, considering the number of chances they created.

“I don’t think the result is fair. I think a draw would have been a better outcome for both teams because we were both trying and working hard,” maintained Vilakazi.

With five games remaining, Bay will resume their fight for survival when they host their neighbors, AmaZulu, in a KZN derby on Tuesday evening.

Picture courtesy of Richards Bay