Royal AM coach John Maduka seems perturbed facing the reality that they can’t sign players due to the Fifa ban imposed on the team.
Fifa slapped Royal AM with a transfer ban after the KwaZulu-Natal side failed to settle a payment of R12 million to Serbian striker Samir Nurkovic.
Royal AM cut short Nurkovic’s contract and the former Kaizer Chiefs goal-poacher took legal action over unfair dismissal.
With the new season about to get underway on August 4, Royal AM boss Shauwn
MaMkhize Mkhize is still embroiled in legal disputes with Fifa and has taken the matter up with CAS, the Court of arbitration for Sports in Switzerland. The club has not signed players and they are hopeful that they have a strong case and will win the arbitration.
“The Fifa ban does affect us,” said a downhearted Maduka at the DStv Premiership launch.
“If you look at the team, we have checked where we need to reinforce and where we needed players. If things stay the way they are, then it means we have to go with what we have. It affects us but life goes on and we have to with whatever we have. We lost some players like Tebogo Potsane and he was very influential in the team. It is a challenge now because it is harder, we cannot produce or bring someone like him. We have young and exciting players in our development side, but they need time and you have to be patient with them – it is going to be a very difficult season because of the way things are,” Maduka added.
“We must make sure that we work hard and most players we had are still with us, we are fortunate with that. For us it is important to start the league very well. If we start well, it will give us confidence going forward, but it is football and we are looking forward to the coming season,” he explained further.
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