Richards Bay heaped further misery on Orlando Pirates.

• Richards Bay recorded a morale boosting goalless draw with Orlando Pirates at King Zwelithini Stadium on Saturday.  
• On the same day, Stellenbosch FC beat AmaZulu 1-0 in Durban.  
• These two contrasting results will give Stellies and the Natal Rich Boyz confidence heading into their semi-final clash in the Carling Knockout next week.  
• For more sports news, go to the News24 Sport front page.  

Thabang Monare’s sending off just before fulltime in Orlando Pirates’ goalless draw with Richards Bay perfectly summed up the day the Buccaneers had at King Zwelithini Stadium on Saturday afternoon. 

It was a frustrating outing for the Sea Robbers who are drowning in a sea of draws.

Monare was on the bench when he was sent off by referee Jelly Chavali.

The Pirates’ midfielder protested too much for the referee’s liking as Richards Bays managed the match by stealing every second that was available – especially goalkeeper Jakson Mabokgwane.  

While this was a massive point for the Natal Rich Boyz, for Pirates it was two lost points in what has been a miserable start to the DStv Premiership.

Pirates are so far off log leaders Mamelodi Sundowns that the two can’t even be mentioned in the same sentence at the moment.

Sundowns are champions-elect even before we reach the halfway point of the season while the Buccaneers are a midtable side at best.  

It’s a hard fall from grace for a team that challenged Sundowns for the league last season, and even managed to bag the two trophies that were on offer.

This point was crushing to Pirates because Richards Bay eliminated them from the Carling Knockout in a match where neither side could score after two hours of football.

When they were given another 90 minutes, both teams still couldn’t score.  

And just like in the Carling Knockout, this was a victory for the KwaZulu-Natal outfit.

A refreshed Pirates side struggled to penetrate the brick wall Richards Bay placed in front of Mabokgwane. When the Buccaneers managed to squeeze past that wall, Mabokgwane was up to the task to deny his former team producing brilliant saves and showing off his acrobatic side.  

Richards Bay put on a performance that embodied their coach Kaitano Tembo, a tough but disciplined defender during his playing days. The hosts were content with taking the punches from Pirates, especially because they didn’t hit them where it hates.

Tembo’s men looked to catch Pirates with a sucker punch, and they came close on two occasions but Melusi Buthelezi was up to the task.  

The goalkeeper was also the hero for Stellenbosch, who will take on Richards Bay in the semi-final of the Carling Knockout next week in Umlazi.

Stellies beat Usuthu 1-0 thanks to Anicet Oura’s first half goal and Sage Stephens’ brilliance in goal.  

This win for Stellies and Richards Bays’ draw will give them confidence going into their meeting where one of them will contest the final of the inaugural Carling Knockout final.

Reaching that stage would be special for different reasons for the two teams.  

For Stellies, it would be a just reward for the work they have been doing through developing their own talent and managing to be competitive even when clubs with deeper pockets come and snatch their best players from them.

For Richards Bay, reaching the final would give their poor season a much-needed kiss of line.  

Richards Bay are second from bottom and their blushes have only been saved by Cape Town Spurs who have been more woeful.