Richards Bay chairman quashes interference claims: We only care about results

Richards Bay chairman Sfiso “Jomo” Biyela has moved to quash ongoing speculation about alleged interference in team selection at the KwaZulu-Natal-based club, insisting that management is only interested in results, not control.

The outspoken club boss was addressing media at the unveiling of the club’s new signings ahead of the 2025/26 Betway Premiership campaign when he took the opportunity to speak on a narrative that has long followed not only Richards Bay, but several clubs in the league.

Biyela’s comments come after a turbulent three-year spell in the top flight that has seen the Natal Rich Boyz rotate through a carousel of coaches.

Since their promotion, the likes of Pitso Dladla, Vasili Manousakis, Kaitano Tembo, Vusumuzi Vilakazi and Brandon Truter have all had stints either as head coaches or in co-coaching capacities.

In the wake of these changes, murmurs — sometimes from the coaches themselves — suggested that Biyela and the management team may have had a hand in dictating player selections and matchday tactics. But Biyela dismissed those claims as baseless, describing them as a convenient excuse often used when results go south.

“We work very well with our current coaches, but there’s a trend of assumption — not just at our club but across the league — that whenever a team loses, then there’s interference from management,” Biyela explained, in Zulu.

“Who would want to interfere and influence his own team to lose?

"If the coach has a good plan, why would I want to come in and change that?

"Which chairman would do that in their right mind?”

Biyela was visibly frustrated at the perception that management meddling was a routine issue and questioned the logic behind such claims, especially when coaches are praised during winning spells but question motives when results turn.

“The only thing we need is results,” he added.

“There’s no power struggle at our club just because the chairman wants to exert his authority. It doesn’t work that way.”

He continued: “You never hear about ‘interference’ when a coach is winning matches. These things only come up when there’s a losing streak. Then suddenly there’s interference.”

Richards Bay, now under the continued guidance of co-coaches Ronnie Gabriel and Papi Zothwane, are preparing for their fourth season in the Betway Premiership.

The club enjoyed their best finish yet in 2024/25, ending eighth and qualifying for the MTN8 — a testament to the stability that management insists they are trying to foster.

While Biyela admits results remain the primary focus, he also emphasised the importance of mutual respect between the boardroom and the technical team.

He said his role is to empower coaches with the tools and resources to succeed, not dictate how they use them.

With new signings in place and home games set to return to the revamped Mhlathuze Sports Complex, Richards Bay are hopeful of continuing their upward trajectory — and putting the interference rumours firmly to bed.