Premier Soccer League gives Royal AM the red card

In a dramatic but expected turn of events, the Premier Soccer League (PSL) has expelled Royal AM with immediate effect.

The Witness reports that the decision was taken yesterday at an urgent meeting of the PSL’s board of governors, held at the Sandton Convention Centre, where representatives from all 31 professional teams – excluding Royal AM – gathered to deliberate on the club’s future.

The expulsion follows a recommendation by the PSL’s executive committee, chaired by Irvin ‘Iron Duke’ Khoza, after the KZN side failed to honour multiple domestic fixtures earlier this year.

The club’s no-shows opened what officials described as a ‘can of worms’, leaving the league with no option but to suspend the team indefinitely.

The Harry Gwala Stadium-based outfit has been in crisis for months, culminating in SARS placing the club under curatorship over a tax debt reportedly amounting to R40m, linked to club president Shauwn Mkhize and her family trust.

Having played only 11 matches in the 2024/25 Betway Premiership season, all results involving Royal AM have now been expunged from the log.

The adjustment means the team that was previously in 15th position will enter the promotion/relegation play-offs, with the remaining clubs set to conclude the season with 28 matches each.

The league was expected to issue an official statement later yesterday.

Royal AM officials remained tight-lipped following the decision. General manager Richard Makhoba could not be reached for comment and did not respond to calls or messages.

Just a few weeks ago, when The Witness asked whether the club would survive mounting pressure from the league, Makhoba responded: “Don’t stress.”

CEO Sinky Mnisi also refused to comment.

“I don’t speak to the media,” he said on Thursday.

Several players have already left the club, having been declared free agents by the PSL.

When contacted, most of the remaining squad members declined to comment.

One player, who spoke on condition of anonymity, expressed concern for the future.

“This is bad for us as players and the team. It is also bad news for Pietermaritzburg soccer followers,” the player said.

Timeline of Royal AM’s decline:

• October 2024: Disqualified from the DStv Diski Challenge for failing to field a team due to a Fifa transfer ban.
• November 2024: SARS seizes assets linked to Shauwn Mkhize, including the club.
• January 2025: Players strike over unpaid December salaries; Royal’s fixture against Chippa United is postponed.
• January 2025: PSL suspends all Royal AM fixtures indefinitely.
• March 2025: SARS-appointed curator invites bids to auction the club.
• March 2025: Players return to training amid reports of a potential sale.
• March 2025: Curator confirms sale deal collapses after preferred bidder Global Investment fails to pay.
• April 2025: PSL Exco formally recommends the expulsion of Royal AM.
• April 2025: Several players terminate their contracts, citing breach.

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