Royal AM head coach John Maduka believes his club is still one of the best in KwaZulu-Natal despite their two-year transfer ban.
Royal AM head coach John Maduka has expressed a belief that his team is still one of the best clubs in KwaZulu-Natal, despite the team’s long-standing transfer ban.
Thwihli Thwahla are kicking off a second successive season without making any new signings having been banned from making transfers by Fifa since last year. This comes after the club were embroiled in a much-publicised spat with former player Samir Nurkovic, who now plays for TS Galaxy, over reported unpaid salaries when the Serbian left the club.
Since then, the club have been doing their level best to retain some of their most prized assets while mixing them with promising youngsters from their academy.
Maduka attended the launch of the 2024 Prince Mangosuthu Legacy Cup on Tuesday in Durban and discussed various topics with the media including the club’s participation in both the Legacy Cup and the KZN Premier’s Cup, which they won about a month ago.
The 53-year-old said these competitions allowed the club the chance to show that they’re still among the elite clubs in KZN.
“Yes, it is (an opportunity to show what we’re capable of) because everything has to start somewhere. We have won the Premier’s Cup and now it’s the Legacy Cup and we must show what we’re capable of.
“We’re still a big gun in terms of KZN. You compete against good players, good teams, coaches and well-run clubs as well.
“We know we are going to have challenges here and there but that doesn’t make us a bad team. Any team that faces us should prepare because they know what we’re capable of doing.”
The Pietermaritzburg-based outfit will battle Richards Bay in the semi-finals of the pre-season tournament while invitees from eSwatini, Nsingizini Hotspurs, will wait to hear who their opponents are after AmaZulu pulled out of the tournament this year.
After that tournament is concluded on September 7, Maduka and Thwihli Thwahla will face an anxious wait for the outcome of their appeal against the Fifa ban to the Court of Arbitration for Sport. If CAS rules in their favour they will have three days to sign players before the PSL transfer window closes on September 20.
Maduka said even though he wishes the club will win their case, they’d have little time afterwards to bring any new players on board.
“We will always hope for the better and that things go our way, that’s the only thing we’re hoping for,” he said.
“It might be very, very tricky and really challenging because where are you going to find players? It’s very difficult and the time doesn’t allow for us to go out there and look for players, so I don’t think we can make it (happen).
“Our focus now should be starting the season with what we have and hope that things go according to our plan.”
