Latest news with #PapiZothwane
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Richards Bay coach reveals mandate for 2025/26 season
Richards Bay Coach Sets Clear Goals for New Season Ronnie Gabriel / @ Richards Bay co-coach Ronnie Gabriel has shed light on the club's main objective in the league ahead of the start of the new Betway Premiership campaign after guiding the Natal Rich Boys to a top eight spot last season. The former Uthongathi tactician, along with Papi Zothwane, beat prominent teams like Kaizer Chiefs, the now-defunct SuperSport United, and the recently relegated Cape Town City to a spot in the MTN8, where they were sent packing by Mamelodi Sundowns. Now, with the KZN side set to host their home games in a familiar territory this season, Gabriel, who joined the club in August 2021, is adamant having a home ground advantage will go a long way on improving the team's eighth-placed standing from the last term. 'It would be a huge plus for us; remember we have been commuting for the last three or four seasons. We have been playing away games week in and week out and I believe going back to our home ground, playing in front of our supporters, could add at least 10 points from what we got last season come the end of the new season,' he said. 'So, we are hopeful that the supporters will play their role like they always do. Home ground advantage, we would like to make it a slaughterhouse down there in Umhlathuze and we are positive that we will do well in our home ground. The Bay mentor went on to state that their mandate for the upcoming campaign is to collect as many points on the road, as they look to establish themselves as a regular top half team in the South African top-flight division going forward. 'Remember our away record was not the best last season. This season we want to do better away from home, we want to pick up points away from home and that's more of our objective. We feel that if we pick up more points away from home, it will take us higher up the table,' Gabriel added. The Jomo Biyela-owned club will commence their league commitments with a visit from Marumo Gallants at King Zwelithini Stadium on Saturday, before finally playing at Umhlathuze Sports Complex in matchday four against Chippa United.
IOL News
3 days ago
- Sport
- IOL News
Richards Bay's long-awaited uMhlathuze return delayed by damaged pitch
Richards Bay were crowned champions of the 2025 KZN Premiers Cup at Umhlathuze Sports Complex, in Richards Bay, at the end of last month. Photo: BackpagePix Image: BackpagePix Richards Bay FC's long-awaited return to their true home in uMhlathuze has been put on hold, just days before the start of the new Betway Premiership season. After spending their first three seasons in the top flight playing out of the King Zwelithini Stadium in Umlazi, the Natal Rich Boyz were finally set to host matches at the newly refurbished uMhlathuze Stadium — starting with a home opener against Marumo Gallants on Saturday. However, that emotional comeback has now been delayed. The club confirmed on Monday that the fixture will be moved to a different venue following significant damage to the pitch during the KZN Premier's Cup last weekend, where heavy rain left the surface unplayable. 'Following a tough KZN Premier's Cup contested over rain-sodden days last weekend, the uMhlathuze Stadium playing surface faced significant damage and that has necessitated a change of venue to allow sufficient time for remedial action to be completed,' the club said in a statement. mina I'm suggesting you don't play any games there until the pitch matter is resolved to avoid issuing endless statements, was there before premiers cup and i noticed that the grass will not hold frequent matches. best thing to do now is to start over the pitch. — anthu (@abantuq) August 4, 2025 Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad Loading It's an unfortunate twist for the coastal outfit, who not only won the pre-season competition with a win over Durban City but also used the occasion to mark the symbolic reopening of the stadium they consider home. City of uMhlathuze officials and the appointed contractors are said to be working tirelessly to ensure the pitch is ready by the time Richards Bay host Chippa United on 26 August. The unexpected venue switch throws a spanner in the works for co-coaches Ronnie Gabriel and Papi Zothwane, who had hoped to ride the wave of momentum into the opening weekend. The pair have already started shaping a competitive squad with new additions and will be eager to start the campaign on a high—even if it means doing so away from their fanbase. Supporters, who had been eagerly anticipating the return of elite football to uMhlathuze for the first time in over three years, will now have to wait a few more weeks to see their team in action at home. 'We apologise to our supporters who have been anticipating with excitement to see their heroes in action at home, but we could not allow further damage to the playing surface,' the club added. An alternative venue for the clash against Gallants will be announced in due course which is expected to be a return to Umlazi as per the PSL fixture.
IOL News
05-07-2025
- Sport
- IOL News
Richards Bay FC sets sights on progression after historic top-eight finish
Richards Bay proved to be a difficult team to break down in the Betway Premiership. Photo: BackpagePix Richards Bay FC are entering a new phase — a team not just content to be top-flight survivors, but top-eight contenders aiming to make their mark. After finishing eighth in the Betway Premiership last season, the Natal Rich Boyz secured their first-ever qualification to the MTN8. It was a remarkable turnaround for a club that had flirted with relegation in the previous campaign. Now the mission is clear: build on the breakthrough and make top-half football a regular feature in KwaZulu-Natal. Central to that progress has been the steady hand of co-coaches Ronnie Gabriel and Papi Zothwane, who guided the side through a season defined by tactical discipline, defensive structure and a growing sense of belief. The duo will again lead the team into the new campaign — this time with added pressure, but also with momentum on their side. Reinforcements are also on the way. Richards Bay are expected to unveil several new signings on Tuesday, as the club is moving to bolster key departments ahead of a campaign that includes both league and cup football.
IOL News
23-05-2025
- Sport
- IOL News
Richards Bay back coaching trio after securing Premiership survival
Papi Zothwane Richards Bay assistant coach Papi Zothwane has found a level of consistency in recent results. Photo: BackpagePix Image: BackpagePix Richards Bay have moved swiftly to end any speculation around their technical team, confirming that coaches Ronnie Gabriel, along with assistants Papi Zothwane and Siboniso Gumede, will remain in charge beyond the 2024/25 season. This follows the Natal Rich Boyz officially securing their Premiership status for next season with a game to spare – a significant achievement for a club that spent most of the campaign flirting with relegation. With 30 points after 27 matches, Richards Bay now sit in 11th place, out of reach of the danger zone regardless of what happens in their final fixture against SuperSport United on Saturday (3pm start). It's been a season of instability and recovery. The club began the campaign under Brandon Truter, who was appointed in August 2024, but lasted only three months. His exit in November forced the club to recalibrate, handing the reins to Gabriel, previously a long-serving member of the technical team. He was joined by Zothwane and Gumede to form a new coaching trio. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ #KnowYourOwner is back! Watch to learn who owns Richards Bay FC and where the money comes from👇🏽 — Cash N Sport (@CashNSport) May 11, 2025 The reshuffle brought just enough grit and resilience to keep the club afloat – a fact the club is now keen to build on. 'Richards Bay Football Club would like to categorically state that the club is not looking for any coach,' the club said in a statement this week. 'Our coaches, namely, Ronnie Gabriel, Papi Zothwane, and Siboniso Gumede, remain our coaches, and we are looking to continue our working relationship with them. They continue to be in the club's plans. 'The club would further like to thank them for their dedication in improving the team, and achieving an improved league standing.' Richards Bay FC has confirmed they are not looking for a new coach, the club has backed Ronnie Gabriel, Papi Zothwane and Siboniso Gumede to continue with the club next season. #BetwayPrem — Ayanda Nyuswa (@atnyuswa) May 22, 2025 It's not the first time the KZN side have flirted with relegation – just last season, they survived via the PSL Promotion/Relegation Playoffs. But this time, they've done enough in regulation time. A run of solid results in recent weeks, including wins over Chippa United and Polokwane City, helped them edge away from the drop. While performances have remained inconsistent, the squad showed enough resolve to get the job done.
