Richards Bay have sacked head coach Ronnie Gabriel with immediate effect after a disastrous start to the Betway Premiership season. The move comes just days before the club is scheduled to host Sekhukhune United on Thursday in a key fixtures list encounter.
Gabriel's departure was confirmed by the club on Thursday, with Richards Bay thanking him for his contribution and wishing him well. No specific reason was given for the exit, but the team's results made the decision inevitable. They failed to win any of their opening six league matches, picking up just three points from a possible 18. This poor run has left the club languishing in 14th place in the standings, a perilous position that demands urgent change.
The club's campaign began with a home defeat to Polokwane City and never recovered. They drew with Chippa United, Durban City, and Kaizer Chiefs before suffering defeats to AmaZulu and, most recently, newly promoted Milford FC last Sunday. In those six games, Richards Bay scored seven goals but conceded 13, a defensive frailty starkly highlighted in the league's stats pages. Gabriel himself had acknowledged the growing pressure, stating that "the club’s winless start risked creating a mental block among his players." The coaching change leaves the club scrambling to appoint a successor with the season still in its early stages.
Sekhukhune United travel to face a side in turmoil this week. Lehlohonolo Seema's men currently sit 6th in the Premier Soccer League with eight points from their six matches, but their own recent form has been patchy with no wins in their last five outings across all competitions. Their most recent result was a 1-1 draw away to Stellenbosch, where Bethuel Muzeu scored a 63rd-minute equaliser. Sekhukhune will be looking to key players in their squad to exploit the instability at Richards Bay and secure a much-needed victory.
Facing a team with a new, unprepared coaching regime could present an opportunity for Sekhukhune to arrest their winless run and solidify their top-half position. The fixture at the King Goodwill Zwelithini Stadium offers Richards Bay's new boss, whoever that may be, a chance for an instant impact in a match that could define their early tenure. For Sekhukhune United, it is a match they will be targeting to claim all three points and build momentum ahead of a busy period. The match kicks off on Thursday, September 19.
The original report is at independentonsaturday.co.za
