Richards Bay supporter Mboro fears relegation after ‘worst season ever’

Richards Bay FC supporter Mandlenkosi Shandu, better known as “Mboro”, says the club’s disastrous start to the Betway Premiership season has left him unable to sleep and constantly worried about football.

Richards Bay are bottom of the Betway Premiership table with three points from nine matches, having lost six and drawn three. It is the worst start in the club’s history.

The team narrowly avoided relegation through the promotion play-offs during the 2023/24 cycle and managed only a modest challenge in the campaign that followed. This season has brought further problems, including coaching changes and concerns about the club’s administration and tactics.

“I’m always worried; I am never happy,” Mboro said. “Even at home, I’m always quiet. My family even asks me about it sometimes. They even assume my girlfriend dumped me.

“If football could really kill you, I’d be long gone. This is our worst season ever.”

Asked to identify the main reasons for the club’s position, Mboro said there were issues he could not discuss publicly.

“It’s just that there are some things I cannot say here on this platform,” he said. “If I start talking about some of them right now, people may lose their jobs. It’s too personal.”

Richards Bay have already experienced instability in the technical team this season, with Ronnie Gabriel leaving before Bulgarian coach Dimitar Pantev was appointed. Pantev’s position has reportedly come under scrutiny, although Mboro said supporters still trusted him.

He also criticised the club’s failure to maintain its usual contact with fans and introduce the squad before the season.

“Before every season starts, we are all invited, and the players and technical staff are introduced,” he said. “There was nothing of that sort this season.

“As for our new coach, Pantev, I can boldly say he is a Facebook signing because we’ve never seen or met him. But we do trust him. You can’t build a new house and fill it with old furniture.”

Mboro said he was unfamiliar with many members of the current squad, having seen some of them only on social media.

“I don’t even know all the current players,” he added. “I only see some of them on Facebook. We have never met them and welcomed them.”

He also believes Richards Bay needed greater experience in the transfer market, saying the club did not sign two or three experienced players during the previous window.

“The only experienced player we have is Gabadinho Mhango, who’s been injured forever,” he said. “I’m no longer sure if he is really still injured. At the moment, our team is full of too many youngsters.”

With Richards Bay three points from safety, Mboro remains concerned but has not given up hope.

“I don’t even sleep at night,” he said. “Having played nine games, lost six, and drawn three, we’re serious candidates for relegation.

“But there’s still hope though, because only three points separate us from the teams above us.”