By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Richards Bay has confirmed the appointment of Ronnie Gabriel as the club’s new head coach for the upcoming season, with the deal including an option to renew based on performance.
Gabriel replaces Papi Zothwane and will be assisted by Siboniso Gumede.
The club believes Gabriel’s experience within the setup makes him the ideal candidate to lead the team into the new season.
“Richards Bay have appointed Ronnie Gabriel as the club’s new head coach for next season with an option to renew,” the club announced in a statement.
“It marks Gabriel’s first appointment as a head coach in the Betway Premiership,” the statement explained.
“He is no stranger to the club, having previously served as an assistant coach under Pitso Dladla, Vusumuzi Vilakazi, Kaitano Tembo, and Brandon Truter.
Richards Bay were left searching for a new head coach after Zothwane, one of the co-coaches, departed at the end of last season to join Sekhukhune United as an assistant.
“With Zothwane, who spent almost two seasons at the club, moving on, Richards Bay have turned to Gabriel to lead the side into the 2026/27 campaign.”
“Gabriel is in his second spell with the club, having also served as assistant coach under Dladla when Richards Bay secured promotion to the PSL in the 2021/22 season,” the statement continued.
“He later formed part of a coaching trio alongside Zothwane and Gumede, guiding the club to a first-ever top-eight finish in the 2024/25 season.
“The trio remained in charge last season as Richards Bay finished 11th in the Betway Premiership.”
Richards Bay will be looking to improve in the upcoming campaign after finishing 11th in the league last season with 34 points from 30 matches.