Dimitar Pantev sacked by Richards Bay – Bulgarian Coach Axed After Three Matches

Ralph Staniforth

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Last updated: 4 hours ago

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Ralph Staniforth 4 hours ago

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Richards Bay FC have sacked Dimitar Pantev after three straight losses.
The club conceded 10 goals in those matches and remains bottom of the Betway Premiership.
Phuti Mohafe and Simo Dladla are linked as possible replace

Richards Bay sit bottom of the PSL table with six losses in nine matches (Getty Images).

Richards Bay FC are once again searching for a new head coach after parting ways with Bulgarian tactician Dimitar Pantev following just three matches in charge.
Pantev Fired After Three Straight Losses
Mohafe and Dladla Linked
Rich Boyz in Relegation Battle

The Natal Rich Boyz had hoped Pantev would turn around their disappointing start to the 2026/27 Betway Premiership campaign, but his brief spell failed to produce the desired results.

With the club struggling at the bottom of the league standings, attention has now shifted to who could take over and help the KwaZulu-Natal outfit salvage their season.

Pantev Fired After Three Straight Losses

Pantev was appointed in September 2026 after Ronnie Gabriel resigned from his position as Richards Bay head coach following a difficult start to the campaign. Gabriel had taken sole charge of the team after previously sharing coaching responsibilities with Papi Zothwane, who subsequently joined Sekhukhune United.

However, Pantev's arrival did little to improve matters, with the Bulgarian suffering three consecutive defeats against Mamelodi Sundowns, Sekhukhune United and Kruger United. Richards Bay conceded 10 goals in those three matches, leaving the club with little choice but to make another coaching change as they continue their search for a first league victory.

Mohafe and Dladla Linked

Former Polokwane City coach Phuti Mohafe is among the names linked with the Richards Bay position. Mohafe is currently available following his departure from Marumo Gallants earlier this season.

Another potential candidate is Simo Dladla, who is currently serving as an assistant coach at Tanzanian giants Young Africans SC. Dladla is a familiar figure at Richards Bay, having previously coached the club between 2020 and 2021. Dladla is expected to be available after Yanga appointed Fadlu Davids, who will bring his own coaching staff with him.

Rich Boyz in Relegation Battle

Richards Bay currently sit bottom of the Betway Premiership standings with just three points from their opening nine league matches and are still searching for their first victory of the campaign. Their poor start has increased the pressure on the club's management to find a suitable replacement who can immediately improve results and lift the team away from the relegation battle.

The Natal Rich Boyz face a challenging run of fixtures. In their next seven matches, they face relegation tussles against Marumo Gallants, TS Galaxy and Siwelele, whilst also facing Orlando Pirates and Mamelodi Sundowns in that period.

Ralph Staniforth is a South African sports journalist, editor and betting writer who has worked in sports media since 2012.

With a background in Sports Science, he has covered a wide range of sports and interviewed leading players and coaches across South African rugby, cricket and football.

His sports betting work covers both South African and international markets, combining his knowledge of sport with extensive experience analysing fixtures, teams, form and betting markets.

Ralph specialises in football and rugby, while also covering cricket, tennis and golf. His work includes match previews, betting tips, betting guides and broader analysis of the sports betting industry.

You can find more from Ralph at Muckrack and LinkedIn.