Richards Bay Co-Coach Believes Team Will Find Its Rhythm
Richards Bay co-coach Ronnie Gabriel says the team has started the 2025/26 Betway Premiership season slowly but believes they will find their rhythm as time goes on.
The Natal Rich Boys lost 1-0 against Golden Arrows at King Zwelithini Stadium on Wednesday. This marks their second defeat of the season, leaving them in 15th position with zero points. Despite losing both of their opening games, Gabriel is confident the team will get back on track, citing the loss of key players as a factor in their slow start.
“Look, with the new players coming into the squad this season, and remember we lost [Yanela] Mbuthuma to Pirates and [Nkosikhona] Ndaba to Orlando Pirates as well, Justice Figuareido is not here as well [but gone to Chippa United],” said Gabriel.
“So as you said last year, it was a similar scenario earlier in the season; however, as the team progressed and we started to gel as a unit, we managed to rectify it. It was just a matter of multiple repetitions, believing in the group, giving them that opportunity to make these mistakes on the pitch and rectify every week, and it will turn around eventually.”
“So, same as last week on the weekend, we dominated the game, we didn’t get the results, it was the same struggle, we will get it right.”
Gabriel also expressed his gratitude for the performance of his players, noting that they did not deserve to lose because they played better than the opponent.
“The first half was a balanced first half, a balanced display, we even doubted each other in the game in the first half. Come the second half, we started to take control of the game, and eventually we took full control of the game in terms of possession, in terms of final third entries, in terms of creating goal scoring chances,” Gabriel stated.
“The finishing touches were in the area where we feel maybe we have to be more ruthless when we get the opponent against the wall, like what happened. It’s something we are going to walk with, converting the chances that we created. But in terms of performance, the group gave a tremendous display here today. I’m sure everyone will see that we were on top of this game here.
“It was a game that we were not supposed to lose; it was a game that could have taken three points easily. It was just not to be this evening. Fantastic goal by [Junior] Deon from the opposition, and those types of goals give you three points in the PSL. That’s how Arrows won the game; it was just a fantastic finish from them.
“But in terms of the game itself, we are happy with the performance and we will grow from this type of display, areas we know where we need to improve on, and we will get it right in the future games.”
The Natal Rich Boys will travel to Soweto for their clash against Kaizer Chiefs at FNB Stadium on Wednesday.
