Amid mounting challenges at Royal AM, head coach John Maduka remains rooted in hope –anchored by his religious faith and an unwavering commitment to the club.
Despite the KwaZulu-Natal side facing serious financial woes, including debts owed to the South African Revenue Service (SARS), and a suspension from official matches by the PSL, Maduka has not turned his back on the team.
The PSL has yet to allow Royal AM to compete in a single official fixture in 2025, leaving the club languishing at the bottom of the log and out of this year’s Nedbank Cup.
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Sources close to the club have revealed that Maduka has drawn interest from other sides in the Betway Premiership.
Yet, despite the potential escape route, the Malawian mentor continues to stand by Thwihli Thwahla – a stance shaped not just by loyalty, but by deep spiritual conviction.
“There is interest in the coach, and it’s not just from one club, but he has decided to stand with the club during these trying times. He doesn’t want to be seen as someone who is turning his back on the chairlady (Shauwn Mkhize) now that things aren’t going well. You know, John is a religious person, and he doesn’t like to hurt others, and that’s what makes him to be the good person that he is. Marumo Gallants is one of the clubs that showed serious interest in him before appointing their current head coach, as well as a few other teams in the PSL,” said the source.
Royal AM’s future in the top flight hangs by a thread. With the PSL’s Board of Governors expected to convene this Thursday to possibly ratify a decision by the league’s Executive Committee to expel the club, the tension is palpable.
The club’s inability to fulfil its obligations – from unpaid debts to failing to honour scheduled fixtures – has brought the league, its sponsors, and stakeholders into disrepute.
Adding to the instability is a FIFA-imposed transfer ban, which has left Maduka with no choice but to make do with what he has.
The former Malawi international has turned to the club’s Reserve League players to fill the gaps, crafting matchday squads with limited resources and almost no room for reinforcement.
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It’s a far cry from the heights of the 2021/22 season, when Maduka steered Royal AM to a historic third-place finish, earning them a spot in the CAF Confederation Cup.
After a brief stint with Maritzburg United – now rebranded as Durban City – he returned to the Royal AM dugout in February 2023, hopeful of reviving those glory days.
But this time, his biggest test isn’t just on the pitch – it’s in navigating a club teetering on the edge of collapse. For now, Maduka’s faith keeps him going.
