Ronnie Gabriel welcomes Richards Bay business model | OneFootball

Interview

Gabriel takes no issue with Bay's business strategy

Photo: Ronnie Gabriel

Richards Bay co-coach Ronnie Gabriel says he takes no issue with the club's business model of nurturing talent and selling to the highest bidder every season.

The Natal Rich Boys have somewhat built a reputation of being a selling team, with Thabani Dube and Sanele Barns being the most notable sales in previous seasons.

Recently, Bay facilitated the transfer of Yanela Mbuthuma and Nkosikhona Ndaba to Soweto giants Orlando Pirates during the off season.

Though the sales force the KZN-based outfit to undergo a rebuild each and every season, Gabriel acknowledges the blueprint of the club is to afford youngsters a chance with a view of cashing in.

“About us losing players on a yearly basis, like two players Mbuthuma and Ndaba playing for Pirates, they are our proteges and there are a few others who are out there in the PSL, we lost them previous years,” he said.

"But again, this is the blueprint of the club, it's giving the youngsters a chance, brining the players through the DDC that's provided by the league, making use of that opportunity to develop the players and giving them the opportunity to play in the PSL.

The former Uthongathi mentor says the club will never a block a player's move to a bigger and better team as it also helps them stay afloat on the financial aspect of the game.

“So, the blueprint of this club allows for that process to take place for us to grow the players. And if players grow at a superior rate and good enough for the big guns then we must not deny them the opportunity as well,” Gabriel added.

"We must give them the chance to go up and grow their careers as well. So, that's the project we are working with at the moment and we are happy with the progress thus far