Richards Bay FC head coach Ronnie Gabriel has revealed the club’s ‘blueprint’ for long-term survival, a mandate that he believes offers a platform for young players to reach greater heights.
It was a case of third time unlucky for the Natal Rich Boyz as their quest for the Carling Knockout Cup final was halted in the semi-final stage once again.
Richards Bay fell to a solitary goal defeat against Orlando Pirates in the first semi-final clash held at the Moses Mabhida Stadium on Saturday. Adding salt to the wound, two of the key players who sank their hopes were former Richards Bay stars: striker Yanela Mbuthuma and fullback Nkosikhona Ndaba. The impressive duo were snapped up by the Soweto giants during the July transfer window following a standout 2024/2025 season.
Despite the defeat and facing his former players, Richards Bay coach Gabriel showed no bitterness. He instead emphasised that player development and profitable transfers are central to the club’s blueprint.
“When you say we are losing players yearly, like Mbuthuma and Ndaba playing for Pirates, they are our products. There are a few others out there in the PSL who we lost as well,” said Gabriel.
In addition to the Pirates duo, the club also recently bid farewell to former captain and centre-back Keagan Allan, who joined KZN rivals AmaZulu FC.
RICHARDS BAY FC COACH OUTLINES THE CLUB’S BLUEPRINT
Gabriel maintained that these exits align with the club’s core strategy: “This is the blueprint of the club: it’s giving the youngsters a chance and bringing the players through from the DDC league.”
Gabriel has faced a constant challenge since taking over in 2022 following Brandon Truter’s unexpected departure: rebuilding the squad as top talent consistently moves on to bigger clubs.
Despite the rhythm disruption caused by this high turnover, Gabriel remains firmly committed to the club’s strategy of nurturing young players and providing a platform for growth.
“The blueprint of the club allows for that process to take place for us to grow the players. If players grow at a superior rate and they are good enough for the big guns, we must not deny them the opportunity,” Gabriel asserted. “You must give them the chance to go up and grow as well, so that is the project we are working on at the moment, and we are happy with the progress thus far.”
The club has already welcomed a new crop of promising young players. Among the most noticeable prospects is 22-year-old attacking midfielder Siyabonga Nzama, who has already made nine appearances for the first team.
Following the departure of former captain Keagan Allan, Richards Bay promoted young centre-back Ntokozo Nzama from their junior ranks. Although he is yet to make his debut, Nzama’s contributions in the DDC remain promising, and Coach Gabriel is slowly integrating him into the senior side.
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