MaMkhize must keep up with PSL Royalty

SO far so good, but consistency is key!

That the efforts of businesswoman Shauwn Mkhize are paying off, as her Royal AM side are enjoying a glorious start among the elite, doesn’t mean they are home and dry. They’ll need to sustain the effort.

Owned by two tycoons in the land, Patrice Motsepe and Johann Rupert, the encounter between Mamelodi Sundowns and Stellenbosch FC has been deemed as “the clash of the billionaires”. Although the latter have been no match for ‘The Brazilians’.

Having been established 51 years ago, Sundowns have grown in leaps and bounds as a football institution thanks to the millions of rands that are pumped in by Motsepe. They’ve won 11 titles and a host of local and African trophies.

Stellies are still in their teething stages though, having been established and promoted in 2016 and 2019 respectively.

But they are hell bent on making an impact as they are unbeaten this term and three points behind league leaders Sundowns.

At the top of the standings, though, the Motsepe and Rupert ‘wealth regime’ is joined by the Mkhizes. Royal AM occupy the third spot. They are flying high much sooner than many thought would be the case, especially given their ascension.

After failing in their pursuit to get automatic promotion – due to Sekhukhune United being crowned champions after Polokwane City were docked points for negligence – MaMkhize took the issue to the High Court and lost the appeal.

However, such is her never-say-die attitude that she bought her way to the top, purchasing the status of financiallythreatened Bloemfontein Celtic. Life at the top, though, came with challenges for them as their off-field struggles were aired for all to see.

After a poor start – which included back-to-back-defeats – Royal AM have been on a roll. They are unbeaten in their last seven matches with five wins and two draws. That run has been inspired by in-form players like Victor Letsoalo.

The club officials, including MaMkhize and her son Andile Mpisane, have milked that glittering start, adding flamboyance. If they are not bringing speakers into the stadium, they are caught on camera issuing out cash “as bonuses” to the players.

That was viewed as unprofessional and quite degrading by many pundits – including yours truly – in a league that’s worth more than a billion rand. And that’s why the charges from prosecutor Nande Becker were expected.

Despite the sanctions, it is hard to put it past MaMkhize and her crew not to be caught on the wrong side of law again. After all, they’ve been about “entertainment”, right? Mpisane doubles as a musician, while MaMkhize is a reality star.

MaMkhize is not the first – nor the last – president to run a club like a personal fiefdom, but she must know that her team has to continue churning out results, or else the empire might crumble come crunch time in the campaign.