Richards Bay FC: Showing why prioritising defence over attack can be successful at the highest level – scout report

Preface: before we begin this piece of analysis, please allow us to state how saddened we were to read about the death of midfielder Siphamandla Mtolo, who sadly passed away recently. 

Once a little-known football club in South Africa, Richards Bay F.C. has recently made waves in the world of South African football with their impressive performances and captivating rise. In 2017, Richards Bay was founded as a newly formed club, determined to make a name for themselves in the highly competitive South African football scene. The team quickly made a splash by winning the KwaZulu-Natal ABC Motsepe League in their very first season, earning themselves a promotion to the National First Division.

Richards Bay finally gained promotion to the South African Premier Division (PSL) by winning the National First Division last season. They won promotion with the best defence in the league, only conceding 22 goals all season. This is something that they have brought into the top flight, having only conceded 16 goals so far this campaign.

However, there are issues at the other end of the pitch as Richards Bay have scored a meagre 17 goals so far this season which is rather interesting for a team that is currently sitting in sixth place in the league. This is actually a common theme in the PSL this season as fourth-place Kaizer Chiefs have a goal difference of zero while fifth-place Cape Town City have scored 26 and conceded 25. 

This tactical analysis in the form of a scout report will look at how Richards Bay play under co-coaches Vasili Manousakis and Pitso Dladla as well as the tactics they use. This tactical analysis will also analyse how Richards Bay’s solid defensive record has been the key to their success and provide an analysis of their attacking output.

Preferred formations

It’s no surprise that Manousakis and Dladla favour defensively solid formations, their most utilised two being the 4-2-3-1 and 4-4-2. 

The 4-2-3-1 formation is characterised by two holding midfielders who protect the back four, allowing the attacking midfielders and lone striker to focus on creating chances and scoring goals. This formation provides a solid defensive foundation, as the holding midfielders can cover the gaps left by the full-backs when they push forward.