Royal AM and Richards Bay Set for KwaZulu-Natal Derby in Betway Premiership

Royal AM is scheduled to face Richards Bay in their upcoming Betway Premiership match at the Harry Gwala Stadium. The fixture, set to kick off at 7:30 pm CAT, promises to be a thrilling encounter between the KwaZulu-Natal rivals.

Currently positioned ninth on the league table, Royal AM remains unbeaten following their opening matches of the season, which ended in draws against Cape Town City and SuperSport United. Head coach John Maduka acknowledged the need for improvement in converting chances, stating, “Surely if we can sort out those few things and make sure we convert our chances… our game will be better or achieve desired results.”

Richards Bay, who sit one place above Royal AM, are coming off a narrow 1-0 loss against Chippa United after securing a victory over TS Galaxy by the same scoreline. Coach Brandon Truter has expressed his ambition for the team, aiming for a top-eight finish this season, saying, “Top-eight is the target.”

Central to Royal AM’s strategy is Andile Mpisane, the club’s chairman and player. Mpisane’s performances have been under scrutiny, with Maduka hoping his improvement will bolster the team’s efforts. Meanwhile, Richards Bay will be relying on defensive standout Keegan Allan, who made an impact by scoring in their win against TS Galaxy.

The two teams have met several times in recent seasons, with their last encounter seeing Royal AM clinch a 3-2 victory. The anticipation surrounding the derby is further heightened by Royal AM’s plans to create a festive matchday atmosphere, as noted by the club’s general manager, Richard Makhoba. He remarked, “Our home games won’t be only about soccer but an event dominated by entertainment to please our supporters.”

In other Betway Premiership fixtures this week, notable matches include the Cape derby between Stellenbosch and Cape Town City, and a clash between AmaZulu FC and Kaizer Chiefs, ensuring football fans have plenty to look forward to.