Finally homecoming for Richards Bay after false starts

After several false starts, Richards Bay finally get to play a home match in the top flight when they host TS Galaxy in the Betway Premiership on Wednesday, ending a three-season exile from the uMhlathuze Sports Complex.

Their return comes after a total of 55 ‘home’ matches away from Richards Bay as the club has been forced to spend the past three seasons playing all their home games in Durban.

Their local municipality failed to make the necessary upgrades to allow top-flight football to be played in the town when Richards Bay won promotion in 2022 and to make matters worse, took three years to finally complete the upgrades required to host top-flight matches.

Recent work on the stadium had seen it finally pass for use after multiple inspections by Premier Soccer League officials, although the poor state of the pitch has meant they have had to postpone two planned home comings against Marumo Gallants and Chippa United in recent weeks.

On both occasions, the fixtures were meant to be played at the uMhlathuze Sports Complex but then moved at the last moment to Durban.

Richards Bay have previously used Umlazi for a total of 53 home games plus hosting a cup game against Orlando Pirates at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in the 2023-24 season and took their last home fixture against Chippa United last month to the Princess Magogo Stadium in KwaMashu.

Richards Bay have four points from their opening five Betway Premiership games of the season and sit in 11th spot after a poor start to the new campaign, having surprised in the 2024-25 season by finishing in eighth place.

They are not the only club with ground issues – newcomers Orbit College have had to move their first home games from Olympia Stadium in Rustenburg to Dobsonville in Soweto.