Royal AM’s state-of-the-art headquarters in Pietermaritzburg was burgled and the first team and ladies team players were robbed of valuables.
Sunday World can reveal that criminals gained entry into the clubhouse, famously known as the Royal Ranch, based in the green lands of the KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) capital, and accosted the players, taking their cellphones, wallets and other valuables.
“The robbery did not just happen to the girls, it happened to everyone in the compound. All the players stay on the farm and they were affected psychologically by the incident,” said an informer.
Said a second source: “A group of armed men broke into the Royal Ranch in Pietermaritzburg and held soccer players hostage. They then robbed the terrified footies of their cellphones and also stole their television sets. The suspects went and hid their haul on a nearby farm and left. They were cornered by the neighbour’s dogs when they returned to fetch their stolen goods.
“Police were called and the suspects were arrested and detained at the Pietermaritzburg police station.”
Royal AM general manager Richard Makhoba feigned ignorance and said if it had happened he would have known about it.
“I am not aware of that. I am in Polokwane with the team. I refuse to comment on an incident that did not happen.
“I do not have appetite to comment on the story that is not there. Maybe go to your source and maybe they can give you more. I think it’s very sensitive and if it happened, I would have known about it,” said Makhoba.
“Thwihli Thwahla”, as the club is affectionately known, is owned by the eccentric and flamboyant businesswoman, Shauwn “MaMkhize” Mkhize and her son Andile Mpisane.
They bought the PSL status of Bloemfontein Celtic from Max Tshabalala for a reported R50-million in 2021 and relocated the club to KZN.
They have established themselves as a force to be reckoned with in the league. Yesterday, they played against Polokwane City at the Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane.
Before the match against Rise and Shine, they were sitting on number 10 on the DStv Premiership with eight points after seven games.
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