Durban City’s quest for revenge against Richards Bay rekindles KZN rivalry
PREMIERSHIP
In Sunday’s KZN Derby, Durban City coach Gavin Hunt will showcase his skills as a master tactician as he seeks to avenge the recent defeat against Richards Bay.
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DURBAN City's quest for a quick revenge against provincial rivals Richards Bay this weekend rekindles a fierce battle of the cities as the two sides face-off in the Betway Premiership encounter at the uMhlathuze Sports Complex on Sunday afternoon (6pm kick-off)
The match promises high stakes and even higher emotions, following their recent clash in the Carling Knockout quarter-finals, where the Natal Rich Boyz emerged victorious, sending the Cityzens packing
Both teams enter this fixture with a score to settle; after a bitter semi-final exit at the hands of Orlando Pirates, Bay are looking to reignite their league campaign and reclaim lost confidence.
Meanwhile, City will be seeking revenge, hoping to reassert their dominance after being ousted in the cup.
Log standings point to Gavin Hunt's Cityzens having an upper hand as they currently stand above at position seven with 18 points - a superiority of five whole points over the Natal Rich Boys, who will be at home on Sunday.
While both sides are not among the free-scorers of the season as they boast 11 and nine goals scored respectively, City will be more buoyed by their more solid defence that has let in nine goals in 12 matches as opposed to that of Bay that has conceded a total of 13.
Aside from the KZN drama, Saturday’s action kicks off with Sekhukhune United spoiling for a fight against Marumo Gallants at the Dr Petrus Molemela Stadium.
Sekhukhune are looking to seize an opportunity to climb to second place on the league table, a position they might occupy barring a win, as ‘The Big Three’ teams, Kaizer Chiefs, Orlando Pirates, and Mamelodi Sundowns, remain inactive this weekend.
However, Gallants are not to be underestimated. After booking their place in the Carling Knockout final — a historic achievement for the club — they will be looking to carry their winning momentum into the league and put a dent in Sekhukhune’s aspirations.
In another match, Bloemfontein-based Siwelele FC will attempt to extend their unbeaten run when they visits struggling AmaZulu FC at the Moses Mabhida Stadium. AmaZulu are desperate to regain form and secure crucial points as they continue to grapple with inconsistency in the league.
The weekend’s action wraps up with a pivotal clash in Mbombela where TS Galaxy take on Lamontville Golden Arrows. Both teams are level on points and will be jostling for a Top-Eight finish, making this encounter a must-watch for fans.