Royal AM players led by Andile Mpisane of Royal AM singing in the tunnel before the 2024 Carling Knockout Cup football match Cape Town City and Royal AM at Athlone Stadium in Cape Town on 19 October 2024. Picture: Ryan Wilkisky, BackpagePix
Smiso Msomi
In a disappointing turn for Royal AM, the urgent high court bid to compel the Premier Soccer League (PSL) to allow the club to participate in outstanding league and Nedbank Cup fixtures has been rejected.
The ruling adds to the turmoil enveloping the team, which is currently under the curatorship of the South African Revenue Service (SARS) due to significant tax liabilities exceeding R40 million owed by businesswoman Shauwn Mkhize and her son, Andile Mpisane.
The club's financial struggles have been a well-documented saga this season. Following extensive discussions about its viability for the upcoming 2024/25 season, the financial position of Royal AM escalated to the National Soccer League (NSL).
On January 22, 2025, the NSL made the monumental decision to suspend all future fixtures for the club citing these financial tribulations.
In a bid to resolve the matter, Royal AM initiated legal action on January 29, seeking an urgent court directive that would compel the curator to issue a 'letter of comfort' to the NSL, which would assure them of the club's financial capability to fulfil its league commitments.
They also challenged the curator’s decision on the grounds of it being irrational, unreasonable, and unlawful. However, SARS, the curator, and the NSL opposed the application.
The matter was heard on February 5, but the court struck it from the roll for a lack of urgency, resulting in the club being burdened with court costs.
The court underscored that the urgency claimed by Royal AM was self-created, noting the club was well aware of its precarious position long before pursuing this urgent application.
Additionally, the situation has not only affected the management but also the players. Royal AM's squad has made it abundantly clear that they will not resume training until they receive their overdue salaries for January.
The mounting frustration stems from the club attributing these payment delays to what they termed a "technical issue." Nevertheless, players have firmly stood their ground, indicating no return to the training pitch until their financial grievances are resolved.
The club has not participated in a league match since suffering a 3-1 defeat at the hands of TS Galaxy on December 29.
This suspension has led to the indefinite postponement of their fixtures, which includes pivotal encounters against teams like Chippa United and Orlando Pirates, as well as a crucial Nedbank Cup tie against Milford FC.
As Royal AM grapples with these challenges, the heart of South African football watches closely, uncertain of the future that lies ahead for this storied club.