Has Royal AM become a retirement home for players looking for their last hurrah?

Ricardo Nascimento is the latest player in heading towards the . end of their career to join Royal AM

FILE - Ricardo Nascimento is the latest player in heading towards the . end of their career to join Royal AM. Photo: Muzi Ntombela/BackpagePix

Published Feb 16, 2022

Share

Durban - The new kids on the block, Royal AM led by the youngest chairman in the league is quickly becoming a retirement home for players who have seemingly eclipsed their glory days and are looking for their last big pay cheque.

Club Chairman, Andile Mpisane’s (20) radical approach to reap rapid dividends is one that could be associated with the acquisition of reputable and responsible personnel in the most integral positions on the pitch.

However, the KZN based side started their match against Sekhukhune United with seven players over the age of 31 and a certain 34 year old Ndumiso Mabena also making a cameo appearance in the latter stages of the game.

Royal AM roped in 35 year old Ricardo Nascimento, Thabo Matlaba, 34 and 32 year old Mxolisi Macuphu in the January transfer window, moves that seem to indicate the kind off directive the club’s structures are following.

These deals also offer suggestions in terms of what kind of players the club is attracting, certainly not a group of players looking to prove themselves and enter the elite years of their careers winning trophies with the club.

Royal AM have one of the wealthiest owners in the Premier Soccer League at the helm of the club’s operations.

ALSO READ: Victor Letsoalo strikes again as Royal AM pick up three points against Sekhukhune United

Durban Businesswoman and socialite, Shauwn ‘MaMkhize’ Mkhize could probably go head to head with the biggest clubs in the country in the transfer market.

A further investment in top quality players that still have a guaranteed playing career of five or more years seems to be the only logical decision at this juncture, affording her enough time to reform and re-strategise her club’s ambitions going forward.

Immediate enquiries into their development structures or the lack of rather could also be pointed to.

The clubs unwillingness to put their faith on youngsters and under utilisation of their Diski Challenge squad points to a rather precarious situation in the future.

IOL Sport