By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Royal AM coach John Maduka says it has been difficult pre-season for the KwaZulu-Natal club after they were slapped with a transfer ban by Fifa.
A transfer ban was imposed on the KZN outfit last month after the Premier Soccer League club failed to pay an amount of R12-million owed to former striker Samir Nurkovic, whose contract they terminated prematurely.
Royal AM are contesting the decision but their appeal was thrown out by the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Switzerland, they may not buy or sell any players.
The team legal representative, Leruma Thobejane says the club has received notice from the Court of Arbitration for Sport that their application to have their FIFA sanction overturned has been thrown out.
“It’s very difficult you know. Every start of the new season you always look to find a way to refresh the team but faced with a challenge like this (the transfer ban) it become a problem, “he said at SuperSport’s launch of the new DStv Premiership in Johannesburg.
“But at the same time, it is an opportunity for the players who are available, to grab this opportunity with both hands.”
Royal AM are the latest South African club to fall foul of Fifa after not paying players or transfer fees. In the past, clubs like AmaZulu and Kaizer Chiefs have also not been allowed to make any transfers while they settle outstanding debt.
Royal AM owe Nurkovic R12-million after he signed a two-year contract with them at the start of the last season.
But the striker, who had left Chiefs after three years, was told to leave Royal AM not long after, as he struggled to recover from knee surgery.
Nurkovic took Royal AM to Fifa to force them to pay out his contract but owner Shauwn Mkhize has refused, challenging the Fifa decision.