By
SABC Sport can confirm that the South African Football Players’ Union (SAFPU) has successfully freed six former Royal AM players, who are now officially eligible to resume their careers.
Mondli Mpoto, Khethukuthula Ndlovu, Mzwandile Dlamini, Thabiso Nzoyiya, Diteboho Mofokeng and Zukile Mkhize had been left in limbo following Royal AM’s expulsion from the Premier Soccer League earlier this year.
The Durban-based club was thrown out of the professional ranks in April after failing to honour their Betway Premiership fixtures, sparked by mounting debts to the South African Revenue Service (SARS).
Fellow member clubs voted in favour of the club’s complete dismissal, which rendered them ineligible to drop down a level to the Motsepe Foundation Championship at the end of the 2024/25 season.
While some players managed to secure their clearances through private legal representation and moved on to new clubs, the six above-mentioned players were left stranded and unable to continue their careers.
But SAFPU intervened to assist, and the PSL’s Dispute Resolution Chamber has now ruled in their favour.
“The applicants are declared free agents in terms of rule 43.1.4 and rule 43.1.7 of the NSL handbook and are eligible to join and be registered with clubs of their choosing,” the judgement read.
The order will also be sent to court-appointed curator Jaco Venter, who has been tasked with attempting to recover Royal AM’s estimated R40-million debt to SARS.
Meanwhile, Royal AM owner Shauwn Mkhize has acquired the status of Mbabane Highlanders in neighbouring eSwatini, where SARS no longer has jurisdiction.
