Richards Bay FC Coach Brandon Truter Addresses Job Rumors Amid Slow Start

In an exclusive interview with KickOff, Richards Bay FC head coach, Brandon Truter, responded to growing rumors regarding his future at the club, following a series of mixed results. Despite leading the Natal Rich Boyz to the semi-finals of the Carling Knockout, a notable achievement after their narrow escape from relegation last season, Truter’s position has been a topic of speculation.

The team’s recent 1-0 defeat to Magesi FC has further fueled doubts, and when asked about his future, Truter remained ambiguous, acknowledging the rumors but offering little clarity. “Yes, it’s there, but there is also nothing,” he said.

Social media buzzed with images showing Richards Bay chairman Jomo Biyela appearing visibly frustrated during the Magesi match, leading to questions about possible tensions. Truter, however, denied any implication that Biyela’s reactions were directed at him. “Yes, that’s there. I can’t comment on it, everyone can see. But I can tell you now, it was not directed at me.”

Reflecting on his team’s form, Truter explained the slow start to the 2024/25 season, attributing the club’s defensive solidity as a positive despite struggles upfront. “We are solid defensively, and you could see that we were playing good football this weekend,” he said. Richards Bay has conceded few goals this season, with errors from individual players accounting for the majority of their goals conceded. However, Truter admitted that the team’s biggest challenge remains scoring.

“Last season, we scored only 24 goals in all competitions, and the previous season it was just 20,” Truter explained. “This issue of scoring goals has existed before. Now, how do we solve this problem? Do we continue with the same players or change it up and bring in better quality?”

Despite the concerns, Truter remains optimistic about the team’s progress under his leadership. “With a new coach, we’ve improved our defense, our overall play, and our performance in the final third. We are creating chances, and if we were not doing that, it would be a problem. All the components are there, the only thing missing is the scoring of goals.”

Truter emphasized that the team is still in transition after narrowly avoiding relegation last season. He remains confident that with strategic signings, the club can address their shortcomings and improve their results as the season progresses. “Richards Bay FC is a team in transition, having barely survived relegation last season. If there are teams in worse situations than yours, there’s no need to panic. You simply need to sign players and try to resolve the issue.”

As the club heads into the FIFA break, all eyes will be on whether Truter can guide Richards Bay to more consistent performances and, most importantly, solve their goal-scoring dilemma.