Gabriel Unfazed By Zothwane Exit

Richards Bay coach Ronnie Gabriel says the departure of former co-coach Papi Zothwane will not significantly affect the club, insisting the Natal Rich Boyz already have a clear football philosophy and are focused on building on last season’s progress.

Following Zothwane’s departure, Gabriel was entrusted by the club’s management to take sole charge of the team.

The pair guided Richards Bay to an 11th-place finish in the Betway Premiership last season, narrowly missing out on a top-eight finish and qualification for the MTN8.

Zothwane has since joined Sekhukhune United as assistant coach to Cedric Kaze.

Gabriel acknowledged the strong working relationship he shared with Zothwane but believes the club is well positioned to move forward without disrupting the progress already made.

“We worked very well when he was with us,” Gabriel said.

“However, having said that, Richards Bay Football Club has a distinct game model. We’ve got a distinct philosophy and our own blueprint for this season.

“So, for us as a technical team, it’s about continuity. It’s about getting better at what we did last season and improving on the different aspects of our game.

“When you look at the squad, about 90 percent of the players are still here from last season.

“So we have the advantage of continuity. There isn’t much that needs to change. It’s about maintaining the synergy within the team and continuing to improve from where we left off last season.

“As the technical team, we always appreciated the contribution and wisdom that Papi brought to the club, and we’re grateful for everything he did.

“But it’s a new season now, and it’s up to us to stand tall and continue growing as a club.”

The KwaZulu-Natal outfit will begin their 2026/27 Betway Premiership campaign against Polokwane City at uMhlathuze Stadium on Sunday.