Royal AM, which is relegation-threatened, turned away its players from attending training yesterday. This was barely a day after they had announced their three league fixtures, including one where they will play against Chippa United on Saturday in Port Elizabeth.

TRAINING SUSPENDED

It is still unclear why Royal AM players were told to go home when they reached their training ground at the Pietermaritzburg clubhouse. The team, owned by Shauwn 'MaMkhize' Mkhize and her son Andile Mpisane is expected to play against Orlando Pirates at Harry Gwala Stadium on 22 January, with the next home game against Stellenbosch FC on 4 February. It is not clear if those games will be played either.

CHIPPA ANNOUNCED THE FIXTURE POSTPONEMENT

Royal AM did not announce the club's postponed match on Saturday on their website and social media pages. But it was Chippa United who announced the news of the postponement. On Monday, club chairman Chippa Mpengesi released a statement about the latest developments. He said: "To our supporters, Chippa United Football Club announces with disappointment that our scheduled fixture against Royal AM, set for 11 January 2025 at 17:45 at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, has been postponed by the league with no given reason. This decision, made by the Premier Soccer League (PSL) at the last minute, comes after all necessary arrangements, including logistics and venue preparations, had been finalised."

FINANCIAL TROUBLES

Royal AM, owned by the controversial businesswoman Shauwn "MaMkhize" Mkhize and her son Andile Mpisane, is in trouble for owing millions of Rands to SARS. The team also owes its former players, Samir Nurkovic R15 million and Ricardo Nascimento R600,000, respectively, in wages. As a result of these outstanding debts, FIFA has imposed a ban on the team from acquiring new players. A reliable source said since the team owes SARS millions, it's unlikely they will finish the league in May without facing more sanctions. The source explained: "The PSL is in a predicament at the moment. How do they pay the team their monthly grant when their tax clearance is not in order?"

SARS RAID

When the police and SARS officials raided MaMkhize's posh homes in La Lucia and Sandton, respectively, late last year, they also raided the Royal AM clubhouse in Pietermaritzburg. In all the raided places, they confiscated movable assets, including expensive cars. The farm, which serves as both the team's clubhouse and training facility, was not spared either. Another source said, as much as the team is in trouble with FIFA for owing their former players, they are also facing relegation from the Betway Premiership," said the informant. Royal AM is number 15 on the 16-team log. They won't be signing any players since the window period opened on January 1 due to the FIFA sanction. The club could not be reached for a comment.