The South African Football Players Union (Safpu) has requested an urgent meeting with Royal AM to gain formal clarity following reports that players went on a strike after the club failed to pay them their December salaries and that SARS are on the verge of taking over the club.
The postponed of Royal AM’s league match against Chippa United, scheduled for this week, has enraged the Chilli Boys, who asked why the Premier Soccer League (PSL) was postponing the game without any explanation.
But it has emerged that the postponement may be due to Royal AM players downing tools.
The KZN side, owned by charismatic businesswoman and social media celebrity Shauwn “MaMkhize” Mkhize and his son Andile Mpisane, has landed in hot water with the league on various occasions and were also banned by Fifa from signing players.
Last October, the PSL executive committee kicked Royal AM out of the DStv Diski Challenge (DDC).
The club was also banned by Fifa for owing former player Samir Nurkovic R15-million.
Mkhize’s properties and motorcars were also attached by SARS, which claimed that the club boss owes them R40 million in tax debts.
“Safpu has been in direct communication with the players. We were informed by the players about a meeting that took place with the club’s management in late December,” Safpu secretary general Nhlanhla Shabalala told Sunday World.
“The players informed us that during that meeting, management explained the financial challenges they are facing, particularly with SARS, which has impacted their inability to pay the December salaries on time.
“Furthermore, the players confirmed that management also assured them that they are actively working to resolve the situation, and the club aims to pay the outstanding salaries by early January 2025.
“Safpu’s main priority is to ensure that the contracts of the players are honored and to that end our focus remains on the non-payment of the players, not withstanding the explanation received from the club that the entire situation is due to the pending challenges to SARS and Samir Nurkovic Fifa award.
“Our priority is ensuring that the players are paid their dues and their rights are respected,” Shabalala added.
“Safpu’s intention is to ensure that similar issues do not occur in the future with other clubs, we will continue engaging with the clubs and also engage with the league around the issues pertaining to financial fair play and, most importantly, to protect the dignity of the brand that is the PSL.
“We have requested an urgent meeting with the club to gain formal clarity on the situation. This will allow us to better understand the steps the club is taking to address the matter and, importantly, to ensure that the players’ rights are upheld, and their employment is secure at all times.
“The ongoing consultations between the club and the players have shown mutual respect, and we hope that these discussions will lead to a lasting solution for the players,” he explained further.
