# Royal AM F.C.

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> Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Royal_AM_F.C..md
> Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_AM_F.C.
> Source revision: 1344472364
> License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)

{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2019}}
{{Use South African English|date=April 2019}}
{{Infobox football club
| clubname = Royal AM F.C.
| image = 
| upright = 
| alt = 
| caption = 
| fullname = Royal AM Football Club
| nickname = ''Thwihli Thwahla''
| short name = 
| founded = 
| dissolved = 2024
| American = 
| ground = [Harry Gwala Stadium](/source/Harry_Gwala_Stadium)
| capacity = 12,000
| coordinates = 
| owntitle = <!--optional, default: Owner -->
| owner = [Shauwn Mkhize](/source/Shauwn_Mkhize)
| chrtitle = <!--optional, default: Chairman -->
| chairman = [Andile Mpisane](/source/Andile_Mpisane)<ref>{{Cite web |last=Vedan |first=Eshlin |title=Royal AM chairman Andile Mpisane must stick to Gucci and leave the football to the pros |url=https://www.iol.co.za/sport/soccer/psl/royal-am-chairman-andile-mpisane-must-stick-to-gucci-and-leave-the-football-to-the-pros-36b9fda4-f045-4a27-8d6f-eaadd22e3c0d |access-date=2022-09-07 |website=www.iol.co.za |language=en}}</ref>
| mgrtitle = <!--optional, default: Manager -->
| manager = [John Maduka](/source/John_Maduka)
| coach = 
| league = [Premiership](/source/South_African_Premiership)
| season = [2024–25](/source/2024%E2%80%9325_South_African_Premiership)
| position = 16th (expelled)
| website = {{URL|www.royalam.co.za}}
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}}

'''Royal AM Football Club''', also commonly referred to as '''Thwihli Thwahla''', was a South African professional [soccer](/source/association_football) club based in [Pietermaritzburg](/source/Pietermaritzburg) that played in the [Premiership](/source/South_African_Premiership).

==History==
Originally, the club was called Kings United, before changing its name to Real Kings.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2017-08-23 |title=Real Kings FC: proudly representing KZN |url=https://psl.co.za/news/article/3692974-real-kings-fc-proudly-representing-kz |access-date=2024-06-29 |website=psl.co.za}}</ref>

In 2019, [Shauwn Mkhize](/source/Shauwn_Mkhize) and her son Andile Mpisane purchased Real Kings, renaming it Royal AM.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Royal AM FC |url=https://www.royalam.co.za/fc/history |access-date=2023-09-02 |website=www.royalam.co.za}}</ref>

They bought their right to play in the top tier after purchasing the Premiership license from [Bloemfontein Celtic](/source/Bloemfontein_Celtic_F.C.) in August 2021.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Sibembe|first=Yanga|date=2021-08-17|title=SOCCER: Royal AM finally make it into the Premiership after PSL confirms Bloem Celtic purchase|url=https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2021-08-17-royal-am-finally-make-it-into-the-premiership-after-psl-confirms-bloem-celtic-purchase/|access-date=2021-08-26|website=Daily Maverick|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-08-17|title=OFFICIAL {{!}} PSL confirm Bloemfontein Celtic sale, club to be renamed Royal AM|url=https://www.kickoff.com/news/articles/south-africa-news/categories/news/premiership/official-psl-confirm-bloemfontein-celtic-sale-club-to-be-renamed-royal-am/703914|access-date=2021-08-26|website=Kick Off}}</ref>

The club received a transfer ban from [FIFA](/source/FIFA) effective 3 July 2023 after unlawfully terminating the contract of [Samir Nurković](/source/Samir_Nurkovi%C4%87) and failing to pay the outstanding amount of R12 million.<ref>{{Cite web |title=EXCLUSIVE: Royal AM face FIFA ban following Samir Nurkovic request {{!}} soccer |url=https://www.sabcsport.com/soccer/news/exclusive-royal-am-face-fifa-ban-following-samir-nurkovic-request |access-date=2023-07-06 |website=www.sabcsport.com |language=en}}</ref>

==Sponsorship controversy==
In August 2023, the heavily indebted [Msunduzi Local Municipality](/source/Msunduzi_Local_Municipality) stated that it was going ahead with a R27 million three-year sponsorship of Royal AM.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Maliti |first=Soyiso |title=Msunduzi has 27 days' cash, owes Eskom and Umgeni Water - but insists on R27m Royal AM sponsorship deal |url=https://www.news24.com/news24/politics/msunduzi-has-27-days-cash-owes-eskom-and-umgeni-water-but-insists-on-r27m-royal-am-sponsorship-deal-20230828 |access-date=2023-09-02 |website=News24 |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Ngcobo |first=Nokuthula |date=2024-02-27 |title=R27m deal between Royal AM and Msunduzi still raising questions |url=https://www.thesouthafrican.com/lifestyle/celeb-news/local-celebs/r27-million-deal-royal-am-msunduzi-municipality-mamkhize-eskom-debt-mayor-psl-carte-blanche/ |access-date=2025-01-08 |website=The South African |language=en-ZA}}</ref>

==Financial problems==
In January 2025, the [South African Revenue Service](/source/South_African_Revenue_Service) issued a preservation order against the club over unpaid tax debts by owner [Shauwn Mkhize](/source/Shauwn_Mkhize). In addition, players did not receive their December 2024 salaries, and the club's upcoming fixtures were postponed by the league's governing body, the [Premier Soccer League](/source/Premier_Soccer_League) (PSL).<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mokhesi |first=Tokelo |date=2025-01-08 |title=Royal AM confirms unpaid salaries, SARS takeover |url=https://farpost.co.za/2025/01/08/royal-am-confirms-unpaid-salaries-sars-takeover/ |access-date=2025-01-08 |website=FARPost |language=en-ZA}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=PSL cans Thursday's Royal AM game against Pirates, suspends all their matches |url=https://www.sowetanlive.co.za/sport/soccer/2025-01-22-psl-cans-thursdays-royal-am-game-against-pirates-suspends-all-their-matches/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250122154851/https://www.sowetanlive.co.za/sport/soccer/2025-01-22-psl-cans-thursdays-royal-am-game-against-pirates-suspends-all-their-matches/ |archive-date=2025-01-22 |access-date=2025-01-23 |website=SowetanLIVE |language=en-ZA}}</ref> In March 2025 SARS put the club up for auction.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Biyela |first=Lunga |title=SARS puts Royal AM up for auction: How to bid for troubled PSL club |url=https://www.iol.co.za/sport/soccer/psl/sars-puts-royal-am-up-for-auction-how-to-bid-for-troubled-psl-club-751b5cc6-9b19-49b0-89dc-98c9eafd33a6 |access-date=2025-03-13 |website=www.iol.co.za |language=en}}</ref>

In April 2025, the PSL's Board of Governors, consisting of the 15 [Premiership](/source/South_African_Premiership) teams (excluding Royal AM), and 16 [National First Division](/source/National_First_Division) teams, voted to expel Royal AM from the league.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Vardien |first=Tashreeq |title=Royal AM out! PSL votes overwhelmingly to expel club from SA football |url=https://www.news24.com/sport/soccer/psl/psls-bog-vote-overwhelmingly-in-favour-of-royal-am-expulsion-20250410 |access-date=2025-04-10 |website=Sport |language=en-US}}</ref>

==Current squad==
{{updated|16 August 2024}}
{{fs start}}
{{fs player|no= 2|nat=RSA|pos=MF|name=Siphesile Msomi}}
{{fs player|no= 5|nat=RSA|pos=MF|name=Jeffrey Dlamini}}
{{fs player|no= 6|nat=RSA|pos=MF|name=[Shadrack Kobedi](/source/Shadrack_Kobedi)}}
{{fs player|no= 8|nat=RSA|pos=FW|name=[Jabulani Ncobeni](/source/Jabulani_Ncobeni)}}
{{fs player|no= 9|nat=RSA|pos=FW|name=Mxolisi Macuphu}}
{{fs player|no=12|nat=RSA|pos=MF|name=[Kabelo Mahlasela](/source/Kabelo_Mahlasela)}}
{{fs player|no=13|nat=RSA|pos=DF|name=Lesego Manganyi}}
{{fs player|no=14|nat=RSA|pos=DF|name=[Thabo Matlaba](/source/Thabo_Matlaba)}}
{{fs player|no=16|nat=CMR|pos=GK|name=Hugo Nyamé}}
{{fs player|no=17|nat=RSA|pos=FW|name=Shaune Mogaila}}
{{fs player|no=18|nat=RSA|pos=FW|name=Sanele Radebe}}
{{fs player|no=19|nat=RSA|pos=DF|name=Sello Matjila}}
{{fs player|no=21|nat=GHA|pos=FW|name=Godfred Nyarko}}
{{fs player|no=24|nat=RSA|pos=DF|name=[Thato Lingwati](/source/Thato_Lingwati)}}
{{fs player|no=25|nat=RSA|pos=GK|name=[Mondli Mpoto](/source/Mondli_Mpoto)}}
{{fs mid}}
{{fs player|no=26|nat=RSA|pos=MF|name=[Sbusiso Magaqa](/source/Sbusiso_Magaqa)}}
{{fs player|no=28|nat=RSA|pos=DF|name=Sikhethele Mabuza}}
{{fs player|no=29|nat=RSA|pos=DF|name=Mlungisi Sikakane}}
{{fs player|no=30|nat=RSA|pos=FW|name=[Ruzaigh Gamildien](/source/Ruzaigh_Gamildien)}}
{{fs player|no=31|nat=RSA|pos=DF|name=Ayanda Jiyane}}
{{fs player|no=33|nat=LES|pos=FW|name=[Sera Motebang](/source/Sera_Motebang)}}
{{fs player|no=34|nat=RSA|pos=MF|name=[Mfundo Thikazi](/source/Mfundo_Thikazi)}}
{{fs player|no=38|nat=RSA|pos=FW|name=[Levy Mashiane](/source/Levy_Mashiane)}}
{{fs player|no=40|nat=RSA|pos=DF|name=Philani Cele}}
{{fs player|no=43|nat=RSA|pos=MF|name=[Shane Roberts](/source/Shane_Roberts)}}
{{fs player|no=44|nat=RSA|pos=DF|name=Sabelo Sithole}}
{{fs player|no=45|nat=RSA|pos=FW|name=Sedwyn George}}
{{fs player|no=46|nat=RSA|pos=MF|name=Moffat Mdluli}}
{{fs player|no=77|nat=RSA|pos=MF|name=Hopewell Cele}}
{{fs end}}

== Honours ==

*[SAFA Second Division](/source/SAFA_Second_Division) Kwazulu Natal Stream: [2015–16](/source/2015%E2%80%9316_SAFA_Second_Division){{refn|group="nb"|The league was known as the ABC Motsepe League at the time due to sponsorship reasons.}}
*'''Macufe Cup''' 
**'''Winners''': 2022

;Notes

{{reflist|group=nb}}

== League record ==

=== [SAFA Second Division](/source/SAFA_Second_Division) (KwaZulu-Natal Stream)===
* [2015–16](/source/2015%E2%80%9316_SAFA_Second_Division) – 1st

=== [National First Division](/source/National_First_Division) ===
* [2016–17](/source/2016%E2%80%9317_National_First_Division) – 11th
* [2017–18](/source/2017%E2%80%9318_National_First_Division) – 4th
* [2018–19](/source/2018%E2%80%9319_National_First_Division) – 12th
* [2019–20](/source/2019%E2%80%9320_National_First_Division) – 4th
* [2020–21](/source/2020%E2%80%9321_National_First_Division) – 2nd

=== [Premiership](/source/South_African_Premiership)  ===
* [2021–22](/source/2021%E2%80%9322_South_African_Premiership)&nbsp;– 3rd
* [2022–23](/source/2022%E2%80%9323_South_African_Premiership)&nbsp;– 11th
* [2023–24](/source/2023%E2%80%9324_South_African_Premiership)&nbsp;– 13th
* [2024–25](/source/2024%E2%80%9325_South_African_Premiership)&nbsp;– 16th (expelled)

== References ==

{{reflist}}{{Premier Soccer League teamlist}}

Category:Soccer clubs in South Africa
Category:National First Division clubs

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Royal AM F.C.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_AM_F.C.) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_AM_F.C.?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.