Gabriel, who's been at the club as an assistant coach since August 2021, stepped up as a caretaker coach when Bay sacked Brandon Truter late in November. Gabriel has overseen four games as an interim coach thus far, winning one with two defeats and a draw.
"Coach Ronnie... what a good guy! He's like a father to us as players. I would really like him to continue coaching the club. We really understand him and you can see that we are improving since he took over. I hope the management keeps him permanently,'' Mcineka told Sowetan at last week's Nedbank Cup draw in Sandton, where they were drawn at home to Orlando Pirates.
"He's been with the club for years now, so he knows everything around the club and the guy just loves Richards Bay football club. For me, it's very important to have someone like him who knows the culture of the club.''
Bay may be flirting with relegation as they sit a point above the relegation zone. However, Mcineka is adamant they'll escape the axe by the end of the season, saying they were not a bad team at all but they were only let down by missing chances.
They travel to Cape Town City, who will be without suspended skipper Thamsanqa Mkhize, in their next league to be staged at Athlone Stadium on Friday (7.30pm).
"We are not going down at all. We will be in the PSL next season, I guarantee you that," said the 28-year-old Mcineka.
"We have a strong squad but a few past results have made people think we are a bad team but we know we are not. The only thing that has let us down is missing chances. We create a lot of chances but we mysteriously fail to find the back of the net."
SowetanLIVE
Appoint Gabriel as permanent Bay coach, says Bay skipper Mcineka
Rich Boys skipper sees improvement under interim mentor and 'father gigure'
Image: Muzi Ntombela/BackpagePix
Richards Bay skipper Simphiwe Mcineka has backed interim coach Ronnie Gabriel to be given the coaching reigns on a permanent basis, reasoning he was a father figure and knew the club in and out.
Gabriel, who's been at the club as an assistant coach since August 2021, stepped up as a caretaker coach when Bay sacked Brandon Truter late in November. Gabriel has overseen four games as an interim coach thus far, winning one with two defeats and a draw.
"Coach Ronnie... what a good guy! He's like a father to us as players. I would really like him to continue coaching the club. We really understand him and you can see that we are improving since he took over. I hope the management keeps him permanently,'' Mcineka told Sowetan at last week's Nedbank Cup draw in Sandton, where they were drawn at home to Orlando Pirates.
"He's been with the club for years now, so he knows everything around the club and the guy just loves Richards Bay football club. For me, it's very important to have someone like him who knows the culture of the club.''
Bay may be flirting with relegation as they sit a point above the relegation zone. However, Mcineka is adamant they'll escape the axe by the end of the season, saying they were not a bad team at all but they were only let down by missing chances.
They travel to Cape Town City, who will be without suspended skipper Thamsanqa Mkhize, in their next league to be staged at Athlone Stadium on Friday (7.30pm).
"We are not going down at all. We will be in the PSL next season, I guarantee you that," said the 28-year-old Mcineka.
"We have a strong squad but a few past results have made people think we are a bad team but we know we are not. The only thing that has let us down is missing chances. We create a lot of chances but we mysteriously fail to find the back of the net."
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