Conflicting information on Royal AM financial woes

The Siya crew has uncovered conflicting information over whether Royal AM are struggling financially after the South African Revenue Services (SARS) chased the club over a R37 million tax debt.

It was reported by Soccer Laduma sometime in October that a High Court judgement had directed the sheriff to “attach and remove the movable property of the Royal AM” – and our sources also indicated this included owner Shauwn Mkhize’s home and fleet of luxury cars.

Naturally, this sparked rumours in the football fraternity that Mkhize would then not be able to sustain the DStv Premiership franchise and could be forced to sell the team in the same manner she acquired it.

Royal AM came to be following Max Tshabalala’s decision to put Bloemfontein Celtic up for sale in 2021 – coincidentally after he too was being hounded by SARS for a R40 million tax bill.

According to high-ranking sources within the Thwihli Thwahla corridors, the reports suggesting the KwaZulu-Natal outfit are doomed have been dismissed internally as information continues to spread that some players aren’t being paid.

“The boss lady has been dealing with SARS all her life and she is prepared to keep fighting because this is not the first time. But the players and staff continue to be well-looked after,” claimed our deep throat.

Royal AM are also currently serving a transfer ban handed by FIFA for their failure – so far – to settle a R12 million amount the world governing body has ruled is owed to their former striker Samir Nurkovic.

Mkhize has not yet made any public comments about the latest developments, but internally our sources insist she’s calm as the club continues to operate.