Mabena drags Royal AM and PSL to court

Striker Ndumiso Mabena has filed an urgent application at the Labour Court claiming Royal AM have failed to pay him his salary for two months, SABC Sport can reveal.

The saga began during the off season when the veteran forward learnt that he was the subject of talks between the Durban-based outfit and Swallows FC. He was part of a deal that involved the transfer of three other players - Dillan Solomons, Khetukuthula Ndlovu and Ruzaigh Gamildien - going in the opposite direction.

While Solomons opted to sign for Kaizer Chiefs instead, his teammates Ndlovu and Gamildien agreed to move to AM.

According to information given to the public broadcaster™s sports desk at the time, Swallows were not keen on Mabena and neither was the striker interested in moving to Johannesburg. The well-travelled striker who previously turned out for Orlando Pirates and the now defunct Platinum Stars preferred to see out his contract, which ends June next year, with the club owned by businesswoman Shauwn Mkhize.

The 2022/23 season got underway in early August and Mabena was not registered by AM.

Documents seen by SABC Sport in the lead up to the Dispute Resolution Chamber (DRC) hearing between the two parties show that the forward had not been paid his July salary and his future remained in limbo.

Following the sitting, the DRC ruled that Mabena should be paid for the outstanding month and œreinstated with effect from 23 August¦but things only got worse, according to the papers now filed at the Labour Court.

The Maritzburg-based club have been accused of not paying Mabena his August salary too, meaning the club has violated and ignored the award made by the DRC panel.

Prior to this drastic step to take football matters to court, the player™s representatives informed the Premier Soccer League (PSL) that AM had ignored the DRC ruling and Michael Murphy, the PSL attorney, urged Mabena™s club to respect the award.

The PSL is now likely to step in as SABC Sport has seen documents confirming that Mabena wants an order compelling the controlling body to deduct his salary directly from the AM monthly grant.

By: Mazola Molefe