SAFPU still hopeful that Royal AM can be saved before the PSL BOG meeting
4th April 2025
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South African Football Players Union (SAFPU) secretary general Nhlanhla Shabalala says they are still hopeful that Royal AM's status can be rescued between now and next Thursday.
The Premier Soccer League’s (PSL’s) board of governors is expected to meet next Thursday and ratify the decision of the league’s Executive Committee to expel Royal AM for failing to fulfil its obligations and irregularly transferring its shares.
This follows a long, drawn out, and protracted tax troubles the club has been embroiled in with the South African Revenue Services (SARS).
Shabalala says they hope the club can still be saved.
"With the limited chances, yes, in football terms they say you must carry on until the fat lady sings, yes, you can play until the last whistle. So, it's still a window of opportunity, we know that the process is complex and is also time consuming but we hope that there is a way that they can find in order to sort this matter out before it gets to the BOG where this matter is hanging in a thread because we don't know there based on the deliberations,” Shabalala said.
“The matter is complicated insofar as the discussions with the points, who's relegated, who's going to play the play offs and all sorts of things. So, it's nobody can guess as to what's going to happen but if it gets to that level, it becomes too tricky as it were. So, we hope the situation can be saved before that."
The PSL sent a circular to its 32 member clubs on Wednesday, confirming that the Exco has recommended that Royal AM be expelled after they were out under curatorship in January over the issues of club owner Shawn Mkhize.
The PSL followed up last month by suspending Thwihli-Thwahla’s fixtures until the curator found a buyer.
With the season running out, the PSL has acted and Shabalala says they sympathise with the decision of the league.
"Well, I don't know where that is drawn from but I think we cannot pre-empt at this point because what they have made is a recommendation and that recommendation is based on the PSL assessing the situation,” he added.
“I think if we must be honest, the PSL has demonstrated extreme patience in this issue, in so far as the brand reputation is concerned, showing that they also care about the lives of the players and the member club that is Royal AM but unfortunately at some point when matters cannot be resolved, we have no option but to take a decision.
“I guess it has come to that point where the executive committee looked at all issues, appraised themselves to the best of their ability and in the strength of their wisdom and therefore made the recommendations to the BOG, which then becomes the final and binding decision should that be taken."
