Richards Bay FC coach Dimitar Pantev has highlighted the challenge of turning around the club’s fortunes with a squad he did not assemble, saying both he and his players need time to adapt.
The Bulgarian tactician inherited a side struggling near the foot of the Betway Premiership table and is working to implement his ideas while awaiting his work permit.
Pantev replaced Ronnie Gabriel, who resigned after a challenging start to the 2026/27 Betway Premiership season. Richards Bay struggled to find a consistent winning run in the opening stages of the campaign, going seven matches without a win. In the opening seven games under Gabriel, the Natal Rich Boys suffered four defeats and registered three draws.
As a result, Bay parted ways with Gabriel and appointed Pantev as the new coach as they aim to turn their fortunes around and climb up the table. The Bulgarian tactician has been with Richards for the past few weeks, although he is yet to obtain his work permit.
In a midweek league match, Pantev watched from the stands as Richards suffered a heavy 4-1 defeat against Mamelodi Sundowns at Princess Magogo Stadium. The 50-year-old had since addressed the media for the first time since his arrival at Richards Bay.
PANTEV SEEKS TIME TO IMPLEMENT HIS IDEAS
Speaking at the 2026 Carling Knockout Cup draw, Pantev admitted he faces a difficult task in turning the corner at Richards Bay.
“It’s not easy to join the team in the middle of the season because I didn’t make the selection of most of these guys [in the transfer window],” Pantev said.
“Most of these players are new to me, and they need time to adapt. I also need time to adapt for the team to be more flexible.
“But I’m happy that they are responding well, and the international break was working for us because I had three weeks to work with the team. So my expectations are high, and this is a big challenge for me to be here; it’s one of the toughest leagues in Africa.
“Everyone likes to compete, and any team can beat others. So it’s also a challenge for me to prove myself at this level; step by step, I want to correct our performances. We need to win some matches in a row to gain confidence.”
The KZN-based side are currently lying 15th on the league table with only three points. Meanwhile, Richards Bay will also have an opportunity to claim a win in the Carling Knockout Cup Last 16 against Sekhukhune United to turn their season around.
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