Richards Bay FC: Coach Dimitar Pantev, Stadium, Fixtures and the 2026/27 Season
Choose SA Gov Info as a preferred source, and Google will show you our SASSA, NSFAS, price and sport updates more often in Top Stories.
Button not showing? Add SA Gov Info as a preferred source on Google
Richards Bay are still looking for their first league win of the 2026/27 season. This guide covers the coach change, where the club plays, every result so far, the coming games and how the club got to the top flight.
Richards Bay FC at a Glance
| What | Details |
|---|---|
| Nickname | Natal Rich Boyz |
| Home area | Richards Bay, King Cetshwayo District, KwaZulu-Natal |
| Home ground | Richards Bay Stadium at the uMhlathuze Sports Complex (some games moved to Princess Magogo Stadium, KwaMashu) |
| Head coach | Dimitar Pantev (announced 21 September 2026) |
| Assistant coach | Siboniso “Jomo” Gumede |
| League | PSL Premiership (since 2022/23) |
| Best league finish | 8th, in 2024/25 |
| 2025/26 finish | 11th, 34 points from 30 games |
| Founded | 2017 |
Coach Dimitar Pantev
Richards Bay began 2026/27 with Ronnie Gabriel as head coach. The club named him on 3 July 2026 for his second spell at the club. He had been an assistant when Richards Bay won promotion in 2021/22, and in 2024/25 he was part of a three-man coaching team with Papi Zothwane and Siboniso Gumede that led the club to its first top-eight finish. Zothwane left in mid-2026 to join Sekhukhune United, where he is now head coach.
Gabriel resigned with immediate effect in mid-September 2026, after six league games without a win (three draws and three losses). Gumede took temporary charge for the 3-2 home defeat to Sekhukhune United on 19 September.
On Monday, 21 September 2026, the club announced Dimitar Nikolaev Pantev as head coach on a one-season contract with an option to renew. Pantev is 50 and holds a UEFA A licence. Richards Bay pointed to his record in Tanzania and Botswana:
| Club | Country | What the club highlighted |
|---|---|---|
| Simba SC | Tanzania | Helped reach the CAF Champions League group stage in 2025 |
| Gaborone United | Botswana | Won the Botswana league in 2024/25 |
| Jwaneng Galaxy | Botswana | Won the national cup in 2025/26 |
| Orapa United | Botswana | Helped reach the CAF Confederation Cup group stage in 2024 |
His first game in charge was a 4-1 home loss to Mamelodi Sundowns on 13 October 2026, after the international break.
Richards Bay FC 2026/27 Results So Far
| Date | Match | Competition | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sun 2 Aug 2026 | Richards Bay v Polokwane City | League | Lost 2-1 |
| Tue 11 Aug 2026 | Chippa United v Richards Bay | League | Drew 1-1 |
| Sat 15 Aug 2026 | Durban City v Richards Bay | League | Drew 1-1 |
| Wed 26 Aug 2026 | Richards Bay v Kaizer Chiefs, Princess Magogo Stadium | League | Drew 2-2 |
| Fri 4 Sep 2026 | Richards Bay v AmaZulu | League | Lost 2-1 |
| Sun 13 Sep 2026 | Milford v Richards Bay, Sugar Ray Xulu Stadium | League | Lost 5-1 |
| Sat 19 Sep 2026 | Richards Bay v Sekhukhune United | League | Lost 3-2 |
| Tue 13 Oct 2026 | Richards Bay v Mamelodi Sundowns | League | Lost 4-1 |
| Sun 25 Oct 2026 | Sekhukhune United v Richards Bay, New Peter Mokaba Stadium | Carling Knockout, last 16 | Lost 3-1 (out) |
| Sat 31 Oct 2026 | Kruger United v Richards Bay, Mbombela Stadium | League | Lost 3-1 |
A few details from the club’s own match reports:
- Against Milford on 13 September, defender Lindokuhle Zikhali was sent off in the 24th minute for a foul in the box. Milford scored the penalty and went on to win 5-1. Mehluleli Ndelu scored Richards Bay’s goal.
- In the Carling Knockout on 25 October, Nqaba Xulu scored late for Richards Bay, but Sekhukhune won 3-1. Our Carling Knockout 2026 page has the full draw.
- At Kruger United on 31 October, Luyanda Khumalo pulled a goal back before half-time, but Kruger scored again in stoppage time to win 3-1.
Where Richards Bay stand on the log
After the 31 October 2026 games, Richards Bay were 16th and last, with 3 points from nine games. They had scored 11 league goals and conceded 23. The whole table is on our PSL 2026/27 season guide.
In the PSL Premiership, the team that finishes last is relegated, and the team in 15th place goes into the promotion and relegation play-offs. Richards Bay have been there before: they finished 15th in 2023/24 and kept their place through the play-offs.
Richards Bay FC Fixtures: Next Games
| Date | Match | Competition |
|---|---|---|
| Postponed | Richards Bay v Stellenbosch | League (was listed for Wed 4 November 2026, the local elections public holiday; new date not yet given) |
| Sun 29 Nov 2026 | Marumo Gallants v Richards Bay | League |
| Wed 16 Dec 2026 | Richards Bay v Orlando Pirates | League |
| Sun 20 Dec 2026 | Richards Bay v Siwelele | League |
| Sat 9 Jan 2027 | Golden Arrows v Richards Bay | League |
| Fri 15 Jan 2027 | Richards Bay v Durban City | League |
These dates come from the league fixture list in early November 2026. The PSL often moves games for TV, cup matches and stadium problems, so check the kick-off time and venue on psl.co.za close to match day.
The Golden Arrows game in January is a KwaZulu-Natal derby. Our Golden Arrows guide has their side of the fixture list.
Stadium: Where Richards Bay Play
The club’s home is Richards Bay Stadium, part of the uMhlathuze Sports Complex in the city of Richards Bay. It holds about 10,500 people.
The 2026/27 season has been unsettled. In August 2026 the PSL suspended matches at the uMhlathuze ground for four weeks from 13 August, and the home game against Kaizer Chiefs on 26 August was moved to Princess Magogo Stadium in KwaMashu, Durban. SuperSport reported on 24 August that the game could not go to Moses Mabhida Stadium because its pitch was still not ready after renovations.
Because the venue can change, always check the fixture list before you travel to a home game.
History of Richards Bay FC
Richards Bay FC was formed in 2017, when the National First Division status of Thanda Royal Zulu was sold and the team was renamed. The first seasons in the second tier were mixed, but in 2021/22, with Pitso Dladla as coach, Richards Bay won the National First Division and were promoted.
| Season | League finish |
|---|---|
| 2017/18 | 12th in the National First Division |
| 2018/19 | 7th in the National First Division |
| 2019/20 | 12th in the National First Division |
| 2020/21 | 3rd in the National First Division |
| 2021/22 | 1st in the National First Division (promoted) |
| 2022/23 | 13th |
| 2023/24 | 15th (stayed up through the play-offs) |
| 2024/25 | 8th, the club’s best finish |
| 2025/26 | 11th |
Before promotion, Richards Bay made headlines in the 2021 Nedbank Cup by beating Kaizer Chiefs 2-1 in the last 32. In the top flight they have not yet reached a cup final.
Richards Bay FC Questions
Who is the Richards Bay FC coach?
Dimitar Pantev, a 50-year-old Bulgarian coach. The club announced him on 21 September 2026 on a one-season deal with an option to renew. He replaced Ronnie Gabriel, who resigned in mid-September.
Where is Richards Bay FC’s home ground?
Richards Bay Stadium at the uMhlathuze Sports Complex in Richards Bay, KwaZulu-Natal. In 2026/27 some home games, such as the Kaizer Chiefs match, were moved to Princess Magogo Stadium in KwaMashu.
Where are Richards Bay on the PSL log?
Last, in 16th place, with 3 points from nine games after the games of 31 October 2026.
When is Richards Bay’s next game?
The next league game on the fixture list is away to Marumo Gallants on Sunday, 29 November 2026. The home game against Stellenbosch that was listed for 4 November still needs a new date.
Have Richards Bay FC won a trophy?
Their main title so far is the National First Division in 2021/22, which took them into the top flight. Their best PSL Premiership finish is 8th, in 2024/25.
More: PSL 2026/27 season guide, Sekhukhune United, Golden Arrows and Kaizer Chiefs.