Royal AM to have new owners next week Royal AM players pose for a team photograph ahead of their Betway Premiership match against TS Galaxy at Harry Gwala Stadium in Pietermaritzburg last December. Photo: Gerhard Duraan/BackpagePix
Image: Gerhard Duraan/BackpagePix
With the clock ticking down to Friday’s deadline for bids, the battle to buy embattled KwaZulu-Natal club Royal AM is heating up.
Reports suggest a mix of local politicians, business tycoons, and even international investors are vying for ownership of the troubled club, currently under the hammer to settle Shauwn Mkhize’s staggering R40 million debt to the South African Revenue Service.
According to the Sunday World, David "Mazolman" Skosana, an uMkhonto weSizwe Party member in Parliament, is said to be one of the individuals interested in buying Mkhize’s club. The report goes on to add that Skosana is backed by Joe “Ferrari” Sibanyoni, an entrepreneur and taxi boss.
There is also interest from abroad, with Soccer Laduma reporting a Congolese businessman is interested in owning the club, and has been keeping tabs on the situation.
Last week, sports minister Gayton McKenzie said on his social media that there were “several prospective buyers”, with one keen to move the club back to the Free State in order to reinstate Bloemfontein Celtic.
“There are several prospective buyers, the auction is on Friday, the people bringing a team to Free State has basically concluded another deal and is prevented for now to announce because of signing a NDA. Free State soccer is definitely returning. Siwelele is coming for sure,” McKenzie said last week.
What will the club’s new owners inherit?
Despite the potential sale, Royal AM’s new owners will inherit the same problems that have held the club back over the last two seasons.
The club have been handed a transfer ban by world football governing body FIFA over the R15 million they owe to former striker Samir Nurkovic.
And as things stand in the Betway Premiership, relegation out of the top flight looks certain. Thwihli Thwahla are rooted to the foot of the table with just eight points. While most teams have between 12 and nine games left to play, Royal AM have played just 11 and were last in action in December.
And on top of that is the matter of salaries owed to the current squad.
The deadline for bids is this Friday, and the new owners are expected to be announced on Monday.
IOL Sport