Are Royal AM players receiving a king’s ransom?
THE unbridled excitement of Royal AM’s entourage after the team’s last gasp 2-1 Kwazulu-Natal derby victory against Maritzburg United made for scenes like kids in a candy store at Chatsworth Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
In unprecedented scenes of jubilation, Royal AM owner Shauwn ‘MaMkhize’ Mkhize led the charge onto the field with her son, Andile Mpisane, and the rest of the entourage in tow. Several video cameras around the group focussed on a large brown envelope. As videos on social media revealed, it contained wads of cash. It looked like bundles of R200 notes. Speculation was rife that the money was winning bonuses for the Royal AM players after their smash and grab victory against neighbours Maritzburg, but that could not be confirmed.
Independent Media contacted Royal AM CEO Sinky Mnisi to confirm why money was brought on the field.
He said he did not see what was happening because he was outside at the time.
“MaMkhize is the only one that can answer questions relating to that,” said the well-travelled Mnisi.
“The chief executive also said he was not allowed to put the media in contact with Mkhize.
Independent Newspapers reached out to Mkhize for comment, but she failed to respond on the same platform she used to address the media a few weeks ago when it was reported that some Royal AM players were allegedly not paid their salaries.
At the time, Mkhize accused journalists of basing their stories on hearsay. Her retort read: “I think we have a problem in the South African media landscape and true journalism is lost.
“Today, many journalists only care about getting views and sales. Some are so eager to publish damaging stories to try to ruin peoples’ reputations instead of just calling to verify.”
On Sunday, it seemed the match would end in a 1-1 stalemate but then defender
Mbhazima Rikhotso, a former SA Under-23 player- who also has one cap for bafana Bafana, intervened with a shock goal four minutes into added time at the end of the match.
The match-winning goal sparked wild scenes of dancing in the stands from the Royal AM group, armed with a portable music centre.
Judging from recent TV footage, the speaker seems to be an integral part of the matchday kit for the Royal AM officials.
Rikhotso’s goal ensured Royal AM of a fourth successive league win for the Premiership upstarts, who moved up to a lofty third place in the league standings, behind pace-setters Mamelodi Sundowns and Stellenbosch FC.
It was the first league meeting between the two teams since Royal AM controversially purchased Bloemfontein Celtic’s PSL franchise.
All the goals were scored late in the second half, with the in-form Bafana Bafana striker Victor Letsoalo firing the opening salvo in the 71st minute.
As the match wound towards the end, it seemed Letsoalo’s goal would be the match winner, but Maritzburg equalised five minutes before the end of regulation time.
The goal was netted by former Cape Town City and AmaZulu midfielder Zukile Kewuti, one of Maritzburg’s new signings.
Then out of nowhere came Rikhotso’s incredible strike, which ensured the hosts snatched victory and three valuable log points, and seemingly match winning bonuses straight after the final whistle ...
Long after the match, social media was abuzz with comments after videos went viral of scenes showing officials with wads of cash.
Most of the comments condemned the show of money, and others lauded Royal AM for giving the players a winning bonus.