Royal AM owner Shauwn ‘MaMkhize’ Mkhize addresses unpaid salary reports

Royal AM owner Shauwn Mkhize has slammed reports that the KwaZulu-Natal club is struggling to pay player wages.

BOOKMARK | For the latest helpful, insightful and expert news, visit The South African website

As reported by The South African website, Moroka Swallows have already announced their inability to pay salaries in December, but Royal AM say they are not in the same boat.

The Dube Birds revealed they were not able to fulfil fixtures against Mamelodi Sundowns and Golden Arrows, but Royal AM did play their final league match of the year against AmaZulu at the Moses Mabhida Stadium on Friday – and lost BADLY.

Usuthu ran out comfortable 3-0 winners leaving Royal AM down in 13th place in the 16-team standings heading into the New Year and AFCON 2023 break.

ALSO READ | Kaizer Chiefs are in great form but there’s still one MAJOR problem

Royal AM are currently serving a FIFA ban which prevents them from signing new players for two successive windows.

A club statement read: “We would like to formally address the recent rumors circulating on social media regarding the payment of December salaries to our esteemed Royal AM players.

“It has come to our attention that certain false and misleading statements have been made on Twitter (X), particularly by @Rushsportson2, about the non-payment of salaries and the potential impact on our upcoming game against AmaZulu FC.

“We wish to categorically clarify that these allegations are entirely baseless and without merit. At Royal AM, we place the utmost importance on the well-being and welfare of our players, and we consistently prioritize the timely payment of salaries.

“Considering the festive season and the unique financial responsibilities that come with it, we took proactive measures to ensure that our players received their December salaries earlier than usual.

“Regrettably, such false information has been disseminated, as it is not only inaccurate but also serves to create unnecessary concern among our supporters and the broader public. We assure all stakeholders that the claims are entirely false, misleading, and defamatory.

“As a club, we remain fully committed to upholding the highest standards of professionalism and transparency, and we will continue to support our players and staff in every possible manner.

“We kindly request that all parties refrain from spreading unsubstantiated information and instead rely on official communications from the club for accurate and reliable updates. We also would like to confirm that the game between Royal AM FC and AmaZulu FC is scheduled to take place tomorrow at the Moses Mabhida Stadium.

“We encourage all our fans to show their unwavering support as we compete in this highly anticipated match. We appreciate the ongoing support of our fans and the understanding of the wider community as we navigate through these unfounded allegations.

“Should there be any further inquiries or concerns, we encourage direct communication with the club’s official channels for clarification and reassurance.”

ALSO READ | Who is the latest wing wizard linked to Kaizer Chiefs?