Royal AM crisis: KZN football legend calls for Shauwn Mkhize to sell troubled club

KwaZulu-Natal football legend Mlungisi Ngubane wants Shauwn Mkhize to sell crisis club Royal AM.

Thwihli Thwahla were thrown into turmoil this week when the PSL announced that the club’s upcoming game against Orlando Pirates, as well as their Nedbank Cup fixture against Milford have been cancelled. They have until Friday to prove to the PSL that their problems have been resolved.

The cancellation comes after the club were placed under the curatorship of the South African Revenue Services over Mkhize’s R40 million tax debt.

Their first game of the year, against Chippa United, was postponed due to players reportedly being on strike after they were not paid their salaries over the Festive season.

"This situation is frankly disgraceful and tarnishes the image of KwaZulu-Natal and South Africa as a whole. I can't believe I'm witnessing this in the PSL," Ngubane said, as quoted by KickOff.

"The best course of action for her would be to sell the club and focus on her other businesses. Selling the club for R50 million would enable her to address the SARS issue, which is her most pressing problem at the moment,” said Ngubane.

"Once she resolves that, I believe she can easily bounce back. She knows how to generate income; she's a hardworking individual. She shouldn't be afraid to start over.”

On top of the tax debt, the club have also been handed a transfer ban by world football governing body FIFA due to owing money to former players Samir Nurkovic and Ricardo Nascimento. Their inability to sign players has led to Mkhize's son, club chairman Andile Mpisane, playing regularly in the Betway Premiership.

IOL Sport