NEWS: Richards Bay’s Vusumuzi Vilakazi confident despite new coach rumours ahead of 2024/25 DStv Premiership season

At the new sponsorship announcement recently, where Richards Bay partnered with Phakwe GAS Group, Tenyane hinted at a surprise move for a new coach. However, Vilakazi, who recently earned his CAF B coaching license at Germiston Stadium, dismissed the rumours.’

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“I’m the head coach at Richards Bay. I’m contracted with them,” Vilakazi stated firmly. “Those are the sponsors who said that; I’m not talking to the sponsors. I don’t know the sponsors.

“I talked to the club’s chairman [Jomo Biyela], who hired me, and I’ve signed a contract with the club’s chairman, not with the sponsors.”

Vilakazi, 41, expressed his excitement about the new season, especially with the addition of new players like Thabiso Kutumela, Siyethemba Sithebe, Keagan Allan and Tlakusani Mthethwa. He clarified that these signings were planned before the sponsorship announcement.

“We’ve not signed them after the sponsor was announced,” he explained. “We spoke with the chairman even before the sponsor was announced. Others were signed earlier because we wanted to reinforce our squad and ensure we compete fairly with other teams, not just fight relegation but challenge for something better.”

Vilakazi highlighted the strategic role Sithebe would play in the team, particularly in guiding younger players who lacked experience last season.

“We have a lot of young players with potential, but we lacked experience here and there. We needed someone to stabilise the team, someone with PSL experience,” Vilakazi said. “We know Sithebe’s strengths and weaknesses, and he will have a significant impact on our setup.

“We will fast-track his integration to ensure he is on the same level as others and understands the club’s identity. He is smart and a clever boy; I believe he will quickly adapt.”

As the new season approached, Vilakazi’s focus is clear: to lead Richards Bay with determination and aim for higher achievements.