Ronnie Gabriel points to Gabadinho Mhango's impact after Richards Bay get off the mark

Richards Bay FC coach Ronnie Gabriel says his side’s first victory of the season was long overdue, as the Natal Rich Boyz finally put points on the board in the Betway Premiership.

A well-taken strike from Gabadinho Mhango earned Bay a hard-fought 1–0 win over Chippa United in KwaMashu, lifting them off the foot of the table after three successive defeats. For Gabriel, it was a moment of relief and validation after weeks of frustration.

The KwaZulu-Natal club had opened their campaign with three losses, scoring just once in that period. Yet Gabriel insisted that performances had shown promise, and that the result against Chippa was a fair reflection of their efforts.

“We came into this game with huge pressure, as we needed to get points on the board — and the boys did just that by collecting all three points,” Gabriel said.

The coach revealed that belief never wavered within the squad, even as results failed to mirror their commitment.

“We were confident heading into the game because we felt our previous performances should’ve earned us points. We knew that if we gave similar efforts, then we would get points,” he explained.

The clash itself was anything but pretty, with both sides rooted near the bottom and desperate to claw their way out. Gabriel described the match as a battle for survival more than anything else.

“Both teams are languishing at the bottom end of the table, so this game became a war of attrition rather than a tactical battle. Both teams wanted to get out of the bottom and it became scrappy at times,” Gabriel said.

Ultimately, it was a moment of quality from Mhango that settled matters. The Malawian international, recruited in the off-season to add cutting edge, stepped up when it mattered most.

“We brought Mhango here to score goals for us, and you could see he’s a serious threat. Even in the previous games, it was only a matter of time before that goal came — and today he delivered us those three points. We expect many more from him this season,” Gabriel added.

For Richards Bay, the hope is that this breakthrough result can spark a turnaround in form. With their first victory secured, Gabriel will now look for consistency as the Natal Rich Boyz aim to avoid another season flirting with relegation.