Ndumiso Mabena: Royal AM chased me away

SABC Sport broke the news in June that the Durban-based outfit had agreed a deal with Swallows FC for the transfer of their captain in exchange for three players – Dillan Solomons, Khethukuthula Ndlovu and Ruzaigh Gamildien – although Mabena had not officially signed with the Dube Birds. 

After at least two months without a salary, the player took the matter to the Premier Soccer League's Dispute Resolution Chamber (DRC). 

“It was not professionally done, and that’s when the fighting started. I had to win all the cases because I went for months without getting paid, it was not nice," said Mabena, speaking exclusively on Sports Night Amplified with host Andile Ncube hours after the Buccaneers confirmed his arrival on Thursday.

"But mentally I was ready and strong, with all the support I was getting from the family and now I have a contract with the Black and White [Pirates].

“We had to go to the DRC and I won that case, but nothing was done. Then we had to go to the Labour Court, that’s when everything started.

"We had to then come to a mutual agreement where I could get my money and we could just part ways. I got my clearance and agreed they would have to pay me for the outstanding months.” 

Mabena, 35, insists he was “chased away” by AM. 

“Nobody spoke to me about coming back, everything was handled by my lawyers – and it was like that until the end. We opened on the 21 June and that’s when I was told I am a Swallows player,” he explained. 

"I told them I am still contracted to Royal AM and that they should have told me before I came back for pre-season. I refused to go to Swallows, I had not seen any documents. Then I was stopped from entering the training premisses because I am not their player. I was chased away."

Pirates have now handed Mabena, who was a free agent, a one-and-half-year contract. 

“I don’t think my age is a problem, it’s just a number. With how I am training, my body still keeps up with the younger ones, that’s why a lot of them still want to learn from me and take in the things I have been doing,” added Mabena.