Richards Bay not safe from relegation - Pitso Dladla

Their 1-0 defeat to Swallows FC on Friday night at the Dobsonville Stadium was yet another reality check for the topflight rookies.

Dladla says they are closer to the drop zone than they are to log leaders Mamelodi Sundowns. 

"We are not safe as yet. You can't be safe if mathematically you can still be dragged there. The only time you are safe is when mathematically you are declared safe. But what I can tell you is that our chairman is helping us to manage the target in terms of accumulating points as a team," he said.

The coach says their challenge in a run that has delivered a single victory from four games was that the majority of the fixtures were on the road. 

"We were aware the block from 15 to 20 games was going to be a challenging one. The reason being we started with Marumo Gallants away, Supersport United away, the only game that we played at home was Amazulu. Out of five games, we only have one game at home," Dladla added.

Richards Bay opted against adding numbers to their squad during last month’s transfer window, and Dladla says there was no need.

"The transfer window didn't affect us in anyway. We were not targeting any player. We believe that the team that we've got is strong enough to give us the desired results. We still believe in the boys. It's not like they struggled today but sometimes when the football gods are not on your side, they're just not on your side," he explained.

Dladla expects the rest of the season, now that it is past the halfway mark, to be tougher because they are now an open book.

"The game as we have started the second leg of the season are becoming tougher. The teams are also analysing us as a team and they are also analysing our players. We're also trying to come up with strategies where we are not going to be predictable," he concluded.