Royal AM Football Club stormed into the South African football landscape with glitz, ambition, and controversy. Founded in 2020 by businesswoman Shauwn “MaMkhize” Mkhize and her son Andile Mpisane, the club quickly became known for lavish spending, flamboyant celebrations, and defiant ownership. But behind the luxury and spectacle was a club whose rapid rise came with turbulent decisions — culminating in expulsion from the league in 2025.
🟨 SECTION 2: Club Overview
| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Royal AM Football Club |
| Founded | 2020 (via Real Kings FC, renamed) |
| Location | Pietermaritzburg / Durban, KwaZulu-Natal |
| Stadium | Chatsworth Stadium |
| Nickname | Thwihli Thwahla |
| Founders | Shauwn Mkhize & Andile Mpisane |
| Owners | Shauwn Mkhize & Andile Mpisane |
| Club Status | Expelled from PSL (April 2025) |
| Club Motto | “United We Stand, Divided We Fall” |
🟨 SECTION 3: Origins – Royal Roots in Real Kings
- The Mpisane family’s football journey began in 2014, when they bought Sivutsa Stars and renamed it Royal Eagles FC.
- After a split in 2019, Shauwn and Andile acquired Real Kings FC, renamed it Royal AM FC in 2020, and entered the GladAfrica Championship.
- Based in Pietermaritzburg, the club quickly gained media attention with its branding, ambition, and the youthful energy of Andile — the youngest club chairman in PSL history.
🟨 SECTION 4: Bloemfontein Celtic Deal – PSL by Acquisition
- In 2020/21, Royal AM finished top of the GladAfrica table but were denied automatic promotion after a legal dispute with Sekhukhune United.
- While awaiting a ruling, Royal AM bought the PSL license of Bloemfontein Celtic in August 2021 — a 50-year-old club with massive Free State heritage.
- Celtic was relocated to Durban, renamed Royal AM, and immediately placed in the 2021/22 DStv Premiership.
🟨 SECTION 5: A Glamorous Start – Fame, Flash & Football
- 🥉 2021/22: Finished 3rd in the PSL, qualifying for CAF competitions.
- Headlines were dominated by:
- 💰 On-field cash bonuses paid publicly.
- 💎 Luxury travel, designer kits, and social media spectacles.
- 🎤 Andile performing halftime concerts.
- The club developed a strong online presence but also faced criticism for prioritizing glamour over structure.
🟨 SECTION 6: Youth Vision & Development
Royal AM emphasized youth through:
- 📈 SAB League team – nurturing grassroots talent.
- 🧒 DStv Diski Challenge U21 team – bridging academy and senior levels.
- ⚽ The club publicly promoted values of respect, unity, and sportsmanship under its motto:
“United We Stand, Divided We Fall.”
🟨 SECTION 7: Decline, Legal Trouble & Expulsion
📉 Financial and Legal Controversies (2022–2025):
- 2023: FIFA imposed a transfer ban over the illegal termination of striker Samir Nurkovic’s contract and non-payment of R12 million.
- 2023: The Msunduzi Municipality drew public criticism for pledging R27 million in sponsorship despite financial instability.
💸 Tax Crisis and Collapse (2024–2025):
- Jan 2025: SARS issued a preservation order against Royal AM for unpaid tax debts by owner Shauwn Mkhize.
- Players’ December 2024 salaries went unpaid, leading to postponed fixtures.
- March 2025: SARS auctioned club assets to recoup tax arrears.
- April 2025: The PSL Board of Governors voted to expel Royal AM from the league — an unprecedented end to a club once brimming with potential.
🟨 SECTION 8: Notable Moments
| Year | Highlight |
|---|---|
| 2020 | Real Kings purchased and renamed Royal AM |
| 2021 | Finished top of NFD but denied promotion |
| 2021 | Bought Bloemfontein Celtic and entered PSL |
| 2022 | Finished 3rd in PSL and qualified for CAF |
| 2023 | Received FIFA transfer ban (Nurkovic saga) |
| 2025 | Expelled from PSL after tax fraud & financial crisis |
🟨 SECTION 9: Legacy – The Rise and Fall of Thwihli Thwahla
| ✅ What Royal AM Represented |
|---|
| Bold new ownership in a traditionally male-dominated space (MaMkhize). |
| Fast-tracked football entrepreneurship and branding. |
| Showed the power and danger of showbiz-meets-soccer. |
| Remains a cautionary tale about governance and financial accountability. |
🟨 SECTION 10: Final Thoughts
“They brought flair and flash to the PSL, but forgot the fundamentals. Royal AM was South African football’s brightest flame — and its quickest burnout.” – Football Analyst
Royal AM’s story is a modern football parable — blending dreams, money, controversy, and ambition. In just a few years, they redefined what it meant to be a football club in South Africa — for better and for worse.
