logo
MaMkhize apologises to Bloemfontein Celtic fans as she rebrands Eswatini team

MaMkhize apologises to Bloemfontein Celtic fans as she rebrands Eswatini team

IOL News16-07-2025
SHAUWN Mkhize's intentions in football remain questionable as she moves to the Eswatini league with the AM rebranding. | BackpagePix
That because the court found out that Royal AM had provided incorrect information in there PSL membership application, and underwent unauthorised transfer of shares.
Recently the Pretoria High Court ruled that the the PSL had actually long been at at liberty to expel Royal AM even before last season's inability to honour their fixtures.
In 2025 Royal AM were expelled from the Premier Soccer League (PSL) midway through the 2024/25 season due to failure to play their matches.
In 2021, MaMkhize purchased the team that was based in Bloemfontein, and she rebranded it to Royal AM and relocated it to KwaZulu-Natal - leaving the passionate Siwelele fans heartbroken and clubless.
CONTROVERSIAL Royal AM owner Shauwn "MaMkhize" Mkhize has issued an apology to Bloemfontein Celtic fans for the dissolution of the historic football team when she bought it's status in 2021.
On Saturday, MaMkhize was announced as the new president of the Eswatini team, Mbabane Highlanders.
The team will now be known as Mbabane Highlanders AM FC, and its previous black and white colours have been changed to black with golden accents.
MaMkhize expressed a desire to honour the legacy of the team, which was founded in 1969, during her takeover.
'I think Bloemfontein Celtic suffered due to difficult circumstances. I sincerely apologise to its supporters for the name change; I could have done better. I could have done as I did now, as I told myself that I would not change the name of the team that was founded in 1952,' MaMkhize said in an interview with Sports Amplified on Metro FM.
'When you look at Mbabane Highlanders, it is structured similarly to Bloemfontein Celtic. The team has committees, a history, and a large fanbase. I felt it was inappropriate to break their hearts.
'I'm just putting something in place that will represent me and my son, but that will still allow the people who love Mbabane Highlanders to continue seeing it as the team they know.'
MaMkhize went on to say that she does not see her son, Andile, continuing to play for the Highlanders as he did at Thwihli Thwahla, where he wore the number 10 jersey.
'Andile wants to get more involved in the management of the team now. Even when Royal AM was still around, he was starting to focus on team management issues.
"I think what he wanted was to play at a higher level, which he has now tasted. At the moment, I see that he prefers to be part of the team management,' MaMkhize said.
Last season, the Highlanders finished in eighth place in the Swazi MTN Premier League.
Mkhize's intentions to buy Highlanders, though, still remains questionable as to whether she is driven by passion to remain involved in football or it is merely just a show off of resistance.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

PSL transfer news: Maema, Lepasa, Basadien, Mofokeng
PSL transfer news: Maema, Lepasa, Basadien, Mofokeng

The South African

time2 days ago

  • The South African

PSL transfer news: Maema, Lepasa, Basadien, Mofokeng

The Premier Soccer League (PSL) kicks off next weekend, but the transfer market has been busy since it opened on 1 July. Soweto giants Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates have signed 17 players between them in the past few weeks. Mamelodi Sundowns, on the other hand, have not announced any official signings but have parted ways with six players. Another player set to leave the Brazilians is Neo Maema. The 29-year-old is reportedly in talks with Simba SC as he looks for a move away from Chloorkop. The Bafana Bafana midfielder has struggled for regular first-team football in recent times and it seems he will finally leave to get gametime elsewhere The Sundowns midfielder was called up by Molefi Ntseki to the Bafana Bafana squad, which will participate in the African Nations Championship (CHAN) kicking off next month. Oswin Appollis appears to be the biggest signing so far, but if Sundowns manage to sign Fawaaz Basadien. According to reports, Masandawana are close to finalising the signing of Basadien from Stellenbosch FC. The Bafana Bafana left-back did not train with Stellies on Thursday. Ntseki's Bafana squad has players who are currently clubless. Zakhele Lepasa is one of the players who will look to impress, having played under Hugo Broos' Bafana team two years ago before injuries halted his career. The 28-year-old striker recently parted ways with Orlando Pirates after seven years. He played over 60 matches, scoring 15 times. He is expected to lead Bafana's attack in the CHAN tournament. One PSL player who can shake things up this transfer window is Relebohile Mofokeng. The 20-year-old has been tipped to leave Pirates but no official offer was made by European clubs. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 0211. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.

Orlando Pirates news: Transfer window hits and misses
Orlando Pirates news: Transfer window hits and misses

The South African

time3 days ago

  • The South African

Orlando Pirates news: Transfer window hits and misses

Orlando Pirates have been the busiest PSL club this offseason, with eleven confirmed signings already boosting squad depth ahead of the new campaign. The likes of Oswin Appollis and Tshepang Moremi headline the arrivals, showcasing the club's clear intent to compete on all fronts. Despite this aggressive recruitment drive, not everything has gone to plan. Two top-tier targets (Fiston Mayele and Fawaaz Basadien) have eluded the Mayfair side, with both players seemingly closing in on moves elsewhere — one locally and the other to a foreign destination. The latter missed Stellenbosch training yesterday amid Mamelodi Sundowns links, suggesting that an exit is all but confirmed. Questions remain over a rising star's future Adding to the uncertainty is the ongoing saga surrounding one of the team's most promising young stars, Relebohile Mofokeng. The talented attacker has attracted interest from abroad, with clubs in Europe, North Africa, and the United States reportedly tracking his progress. His father has made his position crystal clear: he wants his son to leave South African football this season and take the next step abroad. 'He needs to compete in UEFA competitions. If he goes to Saudi now, he won't experience that. Yes, he'd be rich — but happiness is more important,' he stated. While Pirates have not officially commented on the situation, fans are understandably nervous. Losing such a promising player could undo some of the gains made this transfer window. The transfer window is still open, and anything can happen. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 0211. Also, Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.

Ranked: FIVE best Kaizer Chiefs coaches in the PSL era
Ranked: FIVE best Kaizer Chiefs coaches in the PSL era

The South African

time3 days ago

  • The South African

Ranked: FIVE best Kaizer Chiefs coaches in the PSL era

Kaizer Chiefs have had some great coaches over the past 55 years, but the focus here is on the five best coaches since the inception of the Premier Soccer League (PSL). Only two coaches in the club's history have won the league title within the last 30 years, indicating a lack of consistency. While the club enjoyed success in terms of trophies since their formation, everything changed in 2015 when Stuart Baxter left, leading to a decade without any silverware. The trophy drought came to an end in May when they won the Nedbank Cup. 1. Ted Dumitru The late Romanian coach led Amakhosi to their first PSL league title in the 2003/04 season. Nicknamed 'Master Ted,' Dumitru successfully defended the title the following season in a memorable campaign. During the championship race, Amakhosi managed to overtake the season-long leaders, Orlando Pirates, in the last game of the season. Dumitru was praised for his strategic approach to matches and for inspiring Amakhosi's late-season surge. 2. Muhsin Ertugral Ertugral is one of the most iconic coaches in the PSL era. He won six major trophies during his time at Naturena and is best known for leading 'Operation Vat Alles' in 2001, which saw Chiefs clinch every cup competition in the league. 3. Stuart Baxter Baxter's first tenure saw him win four trophies with Amakhosi, and he became the second coach after Dumitru to win a league title for the team in the PSL era. He left abruptly in 2015 but returned in 2021, although he was unable to replicate the success that saw him guide the Glamour Boys to two doubles. 4. Paul Dolezar Known as 'Mr. Rothmans Cup,' Dolezar claimed three consecutive Rothmans Cups, winning two back-to-back with Chiefs. While he struggled to challenge Mamelodi Sundowns for the league title, many believe that with more time, he could have led the team to a league championship. 5. Ernst Middendorp Mazinyo's first stint with Amakhosi was a mixed experience; he won the Absa Cup and the SAA Super 8. He returned to the club a decade later in 2018 and came close to winning the league. Middendorp is one of the few Kaizer Chiefs coaches to lead the club to a second-place finish in the PSL era. Unfortunately, he was dismissed after losing the title in the final 15 minutes of the season. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 0211. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store