HEADACHE FOR ROYAL AM

MBABANE – It looks like things are not going well for Mbabane Highlanders’ TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup opponents Royal AM.

The team is reported to be rocked by internal squabbles after the goalless draw against Highlanders, which was played at Somhlolo National Stadium last Sunday. With just a day before their clash with the ‘Black Bull’ at Moses Mabhida Stadium, the flamboyant Shauwn ‘MamMkhize’-owned side is facing serious challenges. Reports coming from outside the border suggest that there are two unsettling issues. Top of the list is that of former Orlando Pirates striker Ndumiso Mabena and Head Coach Dan ‘Dance’ Malesela who are bitter about the service they are getting at the Durban-based side.

unpaid

Mabena has reportedly taken Royal AM to the Labour Court over unpaid salaries. According to South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) Sport, Mabena initially took Royal AM to the PSL Dispute Resolution Chamber (DRC) after not receiving his salary for July. The PSL DRC then ruled in Mabena’s favour, and ordered Royal AM to pay the veteran striker but that reportedly did not happen. And the trend continued again in August, meaning Royal AM have now not paid Mabena for two months – July and August. It is for that reason the marksman is taking Royal AM to the Labour Court where he’s seeking the court to compel the club to pay him.

deducted

Furthermore, Mabena reportedly wants his unpaid salaries to be deducted from Royal AM’s monthly grant, which all 16 teams receive from the PSL. According to the SABC, the relationship between Mabena and Royal AM went sour after he found out that he was part of a deal that was struck with Swallows FC. Swallows had earmarked Mabena as the player they would sign from Royal AM who in turn wanted Dillan Solomons, Razaigh Gamaldien, and Kethukuthula Ndlovu. Mabena refused to move to Swallows, and wanted to see off the rest of his contract with Royal AM, which runs out in June 2023. And that was the beginning of a sour relationship between Mabena and Royal AM, and he’s now not registered for the current season, even though he is still contracted to them.

parted

Royal AM’s position is that Mabena no longer belongs to them as they parted ways with him on 5 July. Meanwhile, other reports point out that Royal AM’s Malesela is set to depart his post as one of the club’s three co-coaches and is rumoured to be heading back to Marumo Gallants. The 57-year-old mentor’s decision to leave ‘Thwihli Thwahla’ sent shockwaves throughout the football fraternity, poking further holes into the pedigree and success of technical team’s currently employing the ‘co-coaching’ structure. In the 10 months Malesela spent at Gallants last season, he spearheaded their charge up the table and eventually finished in 10th position on the DStv Premiership log and claimed the runners-up medal in the Nedbank Cup, losing to Mamelodi Sundowns. Malesela was thereafter shockingly released at the end of, what many deemed, a successful campaign, even admitting his surprise as he found out through his neighbour that he was not a part of the club anymore.

opportunity

Dan ‘Dance’, as he is affectionately known, is the proprietor of a specific brand of football as seen in his Chippa United and TS Galaxy days, therefore, it comes with some understanding that he might fancy an alternative opportunity to head up his own technical team. Malesela, alongside coaches Abram Nteo and Khabo Zondo, haven’t made the worst of starts to the 2022/23 campaign. Although they suffered a first round elimination from the MTN8, they do hold fourth place in the DStv Premiership log, just three points off log-leading Sundowns.
Reached for comment, Highlanders Coach Selaotse ‘Sly’ Mosala said they would take advantage of this and were hoping to beat their opponents.

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