His leadership has been crucial

After a challenging start to the season, Richards Bay FC have quietly rediscovered their rhythm under the guidance of co-coach Ronnie Gabriel and his technical partner Papi Zothwane.

- 

The Natal Rich Boyz went into the recent FIFA break on a high, following a commanding 4-1 victory over Chippa United, a result that reflected the growing confidence and maturity within the youthful squad. Under Gabriel and Zothwane, Richards Bay have become one of the most intriguing sides in the Betway Premiership, not only for their results but for their fearless approach to player development. The club's commitment to giving youngsters a real platform in the top-flight has become a defining feature of their identity – a philosophy that continues to win admirers across the local football landscape. In this interview with Soccer Laduma's Masebe Qina, Gabriel opens up about the team's turnaround, the value of patience and structure when working with young players, and how unity within the technical team has played a key role in the team's progress.

Masebe Qina: Coach, congratulations on that emphatic win over Chippa United before the FIFA break. What do you think was the key behind such a dominant performance?

Ronnie Gabriel: Thank you very much, Masebe. Going into that game, we knew we had to respond after losing to Mamelodi Sundowns. Before that defeat, we were on a five-game unbeaten run, so that result really disappointed us. We looked at ourselves and felt we conceded too easily against Sundowns. Coming back home, we wanted to put things right - especially in front of our supporters. The boys worked very hard during the week, and their application on matchday was excellent. We actually beat Chippa earlier in the season in the league, so we knew what to expect. We got two early goals, which gave us control, but Chippa fought back to make it.

2-1. That forced us to dig deeper, and we managed to get the third goal just before halftime. From there, we controlled the game much better. At halftime, we spoke about keeping our focus and possibly extending the lead because 3-1 can be a tricky scoreline.