Richards Bay is facing a tough period.

It has been confirmed by sources that midfielder Siyethemba Sithebe has been suspended by the club, effective immediately.

The suspension arises from an incident that occurred following their recent loss to SuperSport United at King Zwelithini Stadium last Friday.

Even though Sithebe did not play in the match, he was present alongside other players. His comments in the locker room after the game displeased the club, resulting in his suspension.

“Sithebe is currently under suspension, and we are addressing this issue,” said his agent, Musa Sithebe, in a statement to Sportswire.

“This pertains to comments he made during the post-match team discussion following the SuperSport game.

“A disagreement occurred in the locker room, which the coaching staff deemed disrespectful.

“We are investigating this situation and I am currently collecting details from those who witnessed the events to better understand what happened.”

From the stands, Sithebe watched as Richards Bay suffered a painful loss against SuperSport. In the 36th minute, Ronnie Gabriel’s team was awarded a penalty, but Nkosikhona Ndaba’s shot was saved by Thakasani Mbanjwa.

Despite the disappointment, club chairman Sifisi Biyela expressed pride in the team’s display that day, while SuperSport coach Gavin Hunt conceded that his team was lucky to emerge victorious.

Sithebe joined Richards Bay during the off-season after leaving Kaizer Chiefs. In his eight matches this season, he has yet to score or provide an assist.

The suspension comes at a critical time for Richards Bay, who are battling to avoid relegation. The club has suffered losses in their last five matches across all competitions and currently sits at the bottom of the league table with only five points from ten games.

This upcoming weekend, Richards Bay will face Golden Arrows at Mpumalanga Stadium on Saturday at 15:30.