Ronnie Gabriel resigns as Richards Bay head coach
Richards Bay Football Club has confirmed that head coach Ronnie Gabriel has stepped down with immediate effect, ending a tenure that began only weeks into the 2026/27 Betway Premiership season.
In a statement, the Natal Rich Boyz said they were “sad to announce that Head Coach Ronnie Gabriel has resigned from the club with immediate effect.”
Gabriel was appointed in July as the club’s first sole head coach in the Premiership after years on the technical staff.
He had previously served as an assistant under Pitso Dladla, Vusumuzi Vilakazi, Kaitano Tembo and Brandon Truter. He later formed part of a coaching trio with Papi Zothwane and Siboniso Gumede.
That group helped Richards Bay to a first top-eight finish in 2024/25 before an 11th-place campaign last season.
The club thanked him for his work across those roles. “The Club expresses its sincere appreciation to coach Ronnie Gabriel for his dedication, professionalism and contribution during his tenure for the past seasons with the club as our Technical team member and wishes him every success in his future endeavours,” the statement said.
The resignation comes after a difficult start to the new campaign. Richards Bay have yet to win in the league, taking three points from six matches with three draws and three defeats, and sit near the foot of the table.
Pressure on Gabriel had already grown following a heavy 5-1 loss to cross-town rivals Milford FC last weekend.
No successor has been named. Richards Bay said “further updates on the new coach will be provided in due course.”
Assistant coach Siboniso Gumede remains part of the technical setup unless the club announces otherwise.
Gabriel, from Tongaat on the KwaZulu-Natal North Coast, had described a top-eight finish as a “fair benchmark” when he took sole charge. That target now passes to whoever is appointed next as the Rich Boyz look to steady a stuttering start.
