Richards Bay co-coach Pitso Dladla says it is “not impossible” for them to win this season’s DStv Premiership title.
But first things first, Dladla says the mandate this season is to accumulate enough points to survive the axe.
The Natal Rich Boyz have punched above their weight in the top flight, lying second on the DStv Premiership table with 18 points after 10 matches.
They are one point behind log leaders Mamelodi Sundowns, who have a game in hand.
With Sundowns not involved in the domestic schedule this coming weekend again, Bay has an opportunity to go top of the DStv Premiership by two points over Downs if they beat struggling Maritzburg United at King Zwelithini Stadium on Saturday (15:30).
“You got to be careful,” warned Dladla when asked about title aspirations.
“You’ve got to remain grounded; you’ve got to be humbled and continue to work hard. Looking at the league title at this stage, I would say it will not be wise (to challenge it), but at the same time it shouldn’t be something that is ruled impossible.
“What I’m trying to say is, first we need to gain enough points that will save us from relegation. At this point, we are only nine points away from the team that is occupying 15 or 16 positions and that is equivalent to three games (won).
“We need to be cautious about this. We need to widen the gap between us and the teams at the bottom. We need to have a gap of 12 and 15 points.
“After 20 games (if we are in the top half), then you can start dreaming of the top eight. If we see ‘hey, it’s five games, we are in the top eight secured’, then we can dream about anything.”
After 10 games Bay had played last season on their way to winning the Motsepe Foundation Championship title, they have won only four matches. However, this season, they have edged that by winning five in the top flight.
As they are building consistency this season, last term, from round number six until 25, they went 19 matches without a loss.
With five matches to go, Bay picked up three wins and two days to get over the line. Can they do it again this season?
“But in football anything is impossible,” said Dladla who was the assistant when Uthongathi were promoted in the Motsepe Foundation Championship in the 2016/17 season.
“What if it is a year whereby an underdog team could run with this title? If that is so, then we will be very happy to do that. But there are steps you need to take like avoid relegation, then top eight and anything above that is a bonus.”
