Thabo Matlaba is back at Royal AM, after he was one of players that was released at the end of last season.
Royal AM boss Shauwn Mkhize is understood to have told several players to leave before the end of last season and those who left were Lantshane Phalane, Ricardo Nascimento, Tshepo Rikhotso, Lesvin Stoffels, Elias Pelembe and Tebogo Potsane.
Several have already found a new club, with Potsane joining Kaizer Chiefs, Rikhotso moving to Sekhukhune United, while Pelembe has gone back home to sign for UD Songo.
Other players that left Royal AM are Orlando Pirates legend Happy Jele and Mthokozisi Dube, whose contracts weren’t renewed.
However, unlike the others Matlaba was seen training with the club in pre-season at the Royal Ranch, which is the club’s training base, and sources said there was a U-turn in his case.
The former Pirates player and captain joined Royal AM in the second half of the 2021/22 season from Moroka Swallows and helped the KwaZulu-Natal club finish third in the DStv Premiership and qualify for their first ever CAF Confederation Cup.
Last season, the 35-year-old featured in 26 matches in all competitions and scored one goal, as John Maduka’s side finished disappointingly in 11th place on the DStv Premiership table, failing to win their last six matches in all competitions.
Meanwhile, Cameroon goalkeeper Hugo Nyame is set to be out for a long lay-off as this publication has learnt that he picked up an ACL injury and he is set to miss quite a chunk of this coming season. He was recommended to go for the operation to repair the knee.
The veteran goalie already missed much of last season, suffering a head injury against SuperSport United last year and spent weeks at the ICU in Pretoria after he collided with Bradley Grobler.
Meanwhile, sources have told iDiski Times that Lesvin Stoffels is not happy at how he was released by the club after he suffered an injury whilst he was on the team’s duty. He is said to be considering taking Royal AM to the PSL DC for not taking care of him as he is injured.
The 35-year-old, who has also played for Royal Eagles – the club that was co-owned by MaMkhize, rejoined the club at the beginning of last season, and featured in 10 matches in all competitions and scored two goals in the process.
Story by Robin-Duke Madlala (@duke_robin).
