Richards Bay head coach Brandon Truter highlighted the loss of Sanele Barns to Stellenbosch FC as the biggest factor in their goal drought this season.
Barns was instrumental in the Natal Rich Boyz team for last season including the promotional playoffs. The 27-year-old was involved in 10 league goals for Bay out of the 24 they scored after 30 games. This season, the KwaZulu-Natal-based side find themselves with only one goal scored after seven league matches as they languish in 12th place just two points above the relegation zone.
Truter stated that the matter of not scoring goals at Bay is not new even before him the team struggled to score, and the departure of Barns made things even worse.
The likes of Yanela Mbuthuma, Ntlonelo Bomelo, and Thabanga Sibanyoni have all struggled to rattle the net with defender Keagan Allen having scored their only goal.
“Barns, being the main supplier and a goalscorer, was a big player to lose for the team,” Truter told iDiski Times.
“If you look at the stats of last year, for the whole season, there were 20 goals scored, so nothing new at Richards Bay, and then, of course, Mbuthuma two goals in two seasons and then you have to look at Sibanyoni in the First Division he scored eight goals, you have to look at these stats and then what you face with those stats doesn’t lie.
“You look at your main supplier is not there, the deliveries that comes in and you have to say wow!. Once as a coach, you are at PSL level and you need to coach technique you’re coaching U13 and U11 passing drills and technical elements where the game at hight level should be focusing on technical elements, I’m still coaching technique.
“So, yeah we sold our best player and I’m not saying we didn’t get that type of player back but the youngster that we produce will look at them positively.
“I think Siphuzo was buzzing when he came in for [Siyethemba] Sithebe. Very good outing for his debut as well, Bomelo he is U20 international he is a bright prospect but it’s also potential talent that needs to nature to produce the [Tshegofatso] Mabasa, the [Evidence] Makgopa whoever.