• Royal AM tells players to get ready to play again after paying January salaries, despite tax troubles.

• The club denies it’s being sold even though Sars took control over R40 million unpaid tax bill.

Contrary to widespread news, the troubled KZN Betway PSL side Royal AM is not for sale.

Royal AM has told its players to stay calm and get ready to play again soon, even as reports say Sars wants to sell the club.

The KwaZulu-Natal team hasn’t played since December 29 because it couldn’t pay salaries. The South African Revenue Service (Sars) took control of the club in November over R40 million in unpaid taxes.

The club’s CEO Sinky Mnisi met with players and staff on Monday after they got their January salaries.

“Sinky addressed the players and coaches yesterday [Monday]. He said there’s no need to worry because the club was going nowhere as they are having positive engagements with the PSL to find solutions,” said a source who asked not to be named, TimesLive reported.

Royal AM sits at the bottom of the league with eight points from 11 games. They still need to catch up on four to seven matches before the season ends in May.

The PSL met this week to discuss what to do about Royal AM’s problems. One option might be kicking them out of the league.

When asked about reports that Sars wants to sell the club, PSL acting CEO Mato Madlala said they only know about the court case.

“We are aware of the judgment of the court but if [the club] is up for sale, I’m not aware,” Madlala said. “We have read the judgment, that’s all I can say. We can’t have a take right now.”

Royal AM’s general manager Richard Makhoba angrily denied the sale reports.

“I don’t want to speak to you. You guys [media] write what you don’t know. You are selling your papers, you have your sources, you might as well write what you think is right,” Makhoba told TimesLive.

“Why are you hating this woman [MaMkhize]? You always want to write everything that takes the brand into the dustbin.”

Pictured above: Royal AM players during a recent match.

Image source:@RAMFC_sa