Richards Bay FC coach Brandon Truter recently had a chat that could see former Mamelodi Sundowns striker Thabiso Kutumela returning to his best form.
Kutumela parted ways with Sundowns at the end of last season, after spending the campaign on loan to Cape Town City, where he was unable to find goalscoring form.
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He is now back in the province where he was in fine form not so long ago. It was in 2020/21 that Kutumela was buzzing, rattling the back of the net regularly in the colours of Maritzburg United (now Durban City). During that season, he scored 14 goals in 31 appearances and caught the attention of Sundowns.
Things did not quite work out for him at Sundowns and he now has an opportunity to get back to his best in KZN, with Richards Bay hoping to benefit from bringing him on board.
While Truter would like to see Kutumela returning to his best form, he stressed the importance of making sure that they decrease any pressure that might be on the shoulders of the player, to ensure he can deliver for them.
"I think Kutumela had one of his best seasons at Maritzburg. We had a chat the other day regarding that and he wants to go back and rediscover that form that put him on the list of so many top clubs," Truter said to media during the launch of new Betway Premiership season.
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"With him now being a key figure in the club, together with (Siyethemba) Sithebe, it's also important that we take as much pressure away from him so that he can enjoy football again. I think at the moment he is playing with a smile on his face and he is showing what he did in the past. A happy player will perform for you. He is happy at the moment."
Richards Bay will start their campaign with a clash against TS Galaxy on September 15, at King Goodwill Zwelithini Stadium.
