// Workers AI · dad joke modeWhy did Royal AM F.C. go to the doctor? It was feeling a little off-ball.
| Full name | Royal AM Football Club | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nickname | Thwihli Thwahla | |||
| Dissolved | 2024 | |||
| Ground | Harry Gwala Stadium | |||
| Capacity | 12,000 | |||
| Owner | Shauwn Mkhize | |||
| Chairman | Andile Mpisane[1] | |||
| Manager | John Maduka | |||
| League | Premiership | |||
| 2024–25 | 16th (expelled) | |||
| ||||
Royal AM Football Club, also commonly referred to as Thwihli Thwahla, was a South African professional soccer club based in Pietermaritzburg that played in the Premiership until expelled in 2025 due to financial collapse.
History
[edit]Originally, the club was called Kings United, before changing its name to Real Kings.[2]
In 2019, Shauwn Mkhize and her son Andile Mpisane purchased Real Kings, renaming it Royal AM.[3]
They bought their right to play in the top tier after purchasing the Premiership license from Bloemfontein Celtic in August 2021.[4][5]
The club received a transfer ban from FIFA effective 3 July 2023 after unlawfully terminating the contract of Samir Nurković and failing to pay the outstanding amount of R12 million.[6]
Sponsorship controversy
[edit]In August 2023, the heavily indebted Msunduzi Local Municipality stated that it was going ahead with a R27 million three-year sponsorship of Royal AM.[7][8]
Financial collapse
[edit]In January 2025, the South African Revenue Service (SARS) issued a preservation order against the club over unpaid tax debts by owner Shauwn Mkhize. In addition, players did not receive their December 2024 salaries, and the club's upcoming fixtures were postponed by the league's governing body, the Premier Soccer League (PSL).[9][10] In March 2025, SARS put the club up for auction.[11]
In April 2025, the PSL's Board of Governors, consisting of the 15 Premiership teams (excluding Royal AM), and 16 National First Division teams, voted to expel Royal AM from the league.[12]
Honours
[edit]- SAFA Second Division Kwazulu Natal Stream: 2015–16[a]
- Macufe Cup
- Winners: 2022
League record
[edit]SAFA Second Division (KwaZulu-Natal Stream)
[edit]- 2015–16 – 1st
Notes
[edit]- ↑ The league was known as the ABC Motsepe League at the time due to sponsorship reasons.
References
[edit]- ↑ Vedan, Eshlin. "Royal AM chairman Andile Mpisane must stick to Gucci and leave the football to the pros". Independent Online. Retrieved 7 September 2022.
- ↑ "Real Kings FC: proudly representing KZN" (Press release). Premier Soccer League. 23 August 2017. Retrieved 29 June 2024.
- ↑ "Royal AM FC". royalam.co.za. Retrieved 2 September 2023.
- ↑ Sibembe, Yanga (17 August 2021). "SOCCER: Royal AM finally make it into the Premiership after PSL confirms Bloem Celtic purchase". Daily Maverick. Retrieved 26 August 2021.
- ↑ "OFFICIAL | PSL confirm Bloemfontein Celtic sale, club to be renamed Royal AM". Kick Off. 17 August 2021. Retrieved 26 August 2021.
- ↑ "EXCLUSIVE: Royal AM face FIFA ban following Samir Nurkovic request | soccer". SABC Sport. Retrieved 6 July 2023.
- ↑ Maliti, Soyiso. "Msunduzi has 27 days' cash, owes Eskom and Umgeni Water - but insists on R27m Royal AM sponsorship deal". News24. Retrieved 2 September 2023.
- ↑ Ngcobo, Nokuthula (27 February 2024). "R27m deal between Royal AM and Msunduzi still raising questions". The South African. Retrieved 8 January 2025.
- ↑ Mokhesi, Tokelo (8 January 2025). "Royal AM confirms unpaid salaries, SARS takeover". farpost.co.za. Retrieved 8 January 2025.
- ↑ "PSL cans Thursday's Royal AM game against Pirates, suspends all their matches". The Sowetan. Archived from the original on 22 January 2025. Retrieved 23 January 2025.
- ↑ Biyela, Lunga. "SARS puts Royal AM up for auction: How to bid for troubled PSL club". News24. Retrieved 13 March 2025.
- ↑ Vardien, Tashreeq. "Royal AM out! PSL votes overwhelmingly to expel club from SA football". News24. Retrieved 10 April 2025.