Richards Bay and Magesi set for relegation six-pointer

In what promises to be a tightly contested clash, Magesi will host Richards Bay at the Seshego Stadium on Tuesday at 6.30pm in a Betway Premiership encounter that could go a long way in determining their survival hopes this season. 

With both teams fighting to stay clear of the relegation zone, the stakes couldn’t be higher.

Magesi find themselves struggling in 15th place with just 17 points, while Richards Bay, sitting in 12th with 21 points, are a little better off. But both are in a perilous position, and they know that three points are the only thing that will keep them safe for now.

Dikwena Tsa Meetse’s season has been far from smooth. Four wins, five draws, and twelve losses paint a grim picture. 

With just 11 goals scored and a worrying 25 conceded, their defensive frailties have been exposed time and again. Their most recent outing, a 1-0 defeat to Kaizer Chiefs, further underlined their defensive woes and inability to convert chances.

Under coach Owen da Gama, they have focused on defensive stability, but it’s clear they’re missing that spark up-front. Magesi will need to fix this if they’re to have any chance of escaping the relegation battle. 

With just two wins at home this season, they’ve struggled to make their home ground a fortress. But there’s a glimmer of hope — they’ll be hoping that the pressure of the home crowd can fire them up for what’s shaping up to be a must-win encounter.

Richards Bay, on the other hand, have shown signs of life in recent weeks. While their overall record of five wins, six draws, and nine losses is still underwhelming, they’ve managed to find some consistency, winning three of their last five matches. 

They’ll be hoping their 2-1 victory over Sekhukhune United will spark a strong run of form as they aim to push further away from the relegation zone.

Coach Papi Zothwane has instilled a more attacking style at Richards Bay alongside Ronnie Gabriel, and it’s starting to show. 

They’ve scored 12 goals this season and have the ability to exploit weaknesses in their opponents. But they can’t afford to slip up against Magesi, who will be desperate for a win.

This match is shaping up to be a classic relegation six-pointer. Both teams are fighting to avoid the drop, and the points here could be the difference between staying up and heading down to the lower leagues. 

For Magesi, it’s about finding the clinical edge they’ve been lacking, while the Natal Rich Boys will be looking to continue their upward trajectory and make a statement in this crucial fixture.