Latest news with #RonnieGabriel
Yahoo
6 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
7 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
04-08-2025
- Sport
- IOL News
True to form, the PSL's Top 4 clubs emerge as MTN8 victors
Orlando Pirates' Nkosinathi Sibisi is congratulated by Polokwane players after a composed performance in their 2-0 MTN8 quarter-final victory over Polokwane City. Photo: Itumeleng English Independent Media Image: Itumeleng English Independent Media The MTN8 quarter-finals offered a revealing glimpse into the state of South African top-flight football, with the big guns flexing their muscle while others floundered. Mamelodi Sundowns and Orlando Pirates underlined their dominance, Stellenbosch FC showed grit, and Sekhukhune United were fired to glory by veteran Bradley Grobler's brilliance. As some clubs celebrated progress, others were left confronting uncomfortable truths ahead of the new season. 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 Cardoso tight-lipped amid transfer speculation The absence of Footballer of the Season Lucas Ribeiro Costa, all-time record scorer Peter Shalulile and dynamic right-back Khuliso Mudau raised eyebrows during Mamelodi Sundowns' 4-0 win over Richards Bay. However, coach Miguel Cardoso refused to be drawn on the trio's future. Known for his candidness, Cardoso instead said, 'I will not discuss them, but all dossiers will be dealt with by the club and communicated.' His silence has only fuelled speculation about looming departures. Coach of Richards Bay Ronnie Gabriel. Photo: Backpagepix Image: Backpagepix Gabriel bemoans 'easy goals' in Richards Bay rout Richards Bay were outclassed by Sundowns, who cruised into the semi-finals. Coach Ronnie Gabriel acknowledged the gulf in class but lamented the nature of the goals conceded. 'We gave away easy goals,' he said, vowing to tighten defensive structures. His side struggled to contain a rampant Sundowns unit and must now regroup after a sobering 4-0 defeat. Oswin Appollis celebrates after scoring against his former club, Polokwane City, on debut for Orlando Pirates in their MTN8 quarter-final clash at Orlando Stadium. Photo: Backpagepix Image: Backpagepix Appollis haunts former club in Pirates' victory Orlando Pirates' new acquisition Oswin Appollis came back to torment his former side Polokwane City, scoring in a clinical 2-0 win at Orlando Stadium. His ex-coach Phuti Mohafe took the blow with humour, quipping: 'It showed I taught him well, and the new Pirates coach has sharpened him.' However, Mohafe's comment that it was 'a game of two halves' didn't align with the stats — Pirates controlled 69% of possession and were dominant throughout. New-look Pirates thrill with vibrant display With 11 new signings integrated into the squad, the Buccaneers delivered a performance full of promise under new coach Abdeslam Ouaddou. Three debutants started the match, while four more made appearances off the bench in the 2-0 win over Polokwane. Sipho Mbule was particularly electric early on, winning the crowd over with his sharp touches, although his influence waned later. Pirates' seamless blend of new faces and core players bodes well for the season. Bradley Grobler scored a brace against TS Galaxy for Sekhukhune United. Photo: Backpagepix Image: Backpagepix Ageless Grobler fires Sekhukhune into semis Bradley Grobler stole the spotlight with a match-winning brace in Sekhukhune United's thrilling 3-2 comeback win over TS Galaxy. At 37, the veteran striker proved he still has the hunger and quality to perform at the highest level. His goals pulled his new team back from the brink and earned him the Player of the Match' accolade. Grobler's Premier Soccer League tally now stands at 117, reinforcing his legacy as one of the league's most prolific marksmen.
IOL News
02-08-2025
- Sport
- IOL News
Tiny Richards Bay target big Mamelodi Sundowns scalp in MTN8 quarter-finals
Richards Bay midfielder Lindokuhle Zikhali against Mamelodi Sundowns last season. Image: BACKPAGEPIX MTN8 debutants Richards Bay are preparing for the biggest test in their club's short top-flight history — a quarter-final clash against the might of Mamelodi Sundowns on Sunday at 3pm. After clinching a dramatic top-eight finish on the final day of the 2024/25 Betway Premiership season, the Natal Rich Boyz now find themselves drawn against the league's most dominant force in the opening round of the lucrative knockout competition. And, while the odds are firmly stacked against them, the club views this occasion as more than just a box to tick — it's a sign of progress. Their coaching duo, Ronnie Gabriel and Papi Zothwane, has kept the squad grounded during pre-season, knowing what awaits them. Sundowns — eight-time consecutive league winners — are not just title favourites; they're also looking to build on last season's domestic dominance under head coach Miguel Cardoso, now entering his second campaign in charge. Richards Bay, by contrast, enter the competition with zero expectations. Having spent most of last season fending off relegation before finishing eighth, they now find themselves in uncharted waters. The quarter-final offers them the chance to measure themselves against a team packed with internationals and CAF experience. Sundowns are expected to field a full-strength line-up, featuring star names such as Themba Zwane, Lucas Ribeiro, and Teboho Mokoena. Richards Bay will lean on their defensive discipline and structure — which helped them punch above their weight last season — to try to keep the tie competitive. The KwaZulu-Natal outfit will also look to recent additions such as Lindokuhle Mtshali in midfield, Gabadinho Mhango's creativity in attack, and the speed of Thulani Gumede to exploit moments on the counter. Goalkeeper Salim Magoola remains a key figure — his shot-stopping abilities could determine whether this becomes a blowout or a contest.
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.
