Brandon Truter has reportedly informed Richards Bay FC players of his impending exit from the club as uncertainty surrounds his future. This comes after he has overseen an awful start to the season.
Although termination papers have not been finalised, Truter faces the axe at the KZN club. His second stint at the club began in August 2024, following Vusi Vilakazi’s exit. However, the impact of the former Moroka Swallows, AmaZulu and Sekhukhune United mentor has been limited.
In 11 matches across all competitions, he secured only three wins, two draws, and six losses. The team struggled to find the back of the net, scoring a mere three goals and conceding eight.
The final straw may have been Tuesday’s 2-1 defeat to 10-man Kaizer Chiefs. This result further highlighted the team’s struggles, leaving them in 14th place in the Betway Premiership table.
“The coach told us that he’s leaving the club after the Chiefs game. He said a decision had been taken by management. But there’s not been any communication from management,” a player told FARPost. A second player also confirmed that the coach had indicated that he was leaving.
This is not the first time there have been murmurs of a coaching change only to backtrack. Earlier this month, club chairman Jomo Biyela had to deny rumours of Truter’s departure publicly.
WHAT JOMO BIYELA SAID ABOUT BRANDON TRUTER’S FUTURE RECENTLY
“Football is an emotional sport; you react in whatever way you react at that point or a particular moment. There’s no bad blood between the coach and me; he is still part of the team,” the chairman was quoted by SABC Sport.
“I’ve seen what you guys are saying about him being fired. I can tell you he is part of the team. We will try to find ways of improving in areas where we feel we are not doing well. But we are not in the business of chopping and changing. It’s better to work with someone you know and help him where needed. A new coach will come here and ask for time and new players.”
Richards Bay’s ambitious goal of finishing in the top four, fuelled by their new sponsorship deal with Phakwe Gas, seems increasingly distant. The club looks likely to turn its attention to finding a new coach who can revitalise the team and steer them towards a more promising future.
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