The clock has run out for Royal AM. Today, March 14, 2025, marks the final day for potential buyers to submit their bids for the embattled football club, which has been placed under auction in a desperate bid to settle owner Shauwn Mkhize’s staggering R40 million debt to the South African Revenue Service (SARS).  

What was once a club full of promise has now become the subject of intense financial and legal battles, with its future hanging by a thread. The new owners—who will be announced on Monday, March 17—won’t just be acquiring a football team. They’ll be inheriting a crisis.  

A High-Stakes Sale

Royal AM is being sold as a going concern, meaning the buyer will assume not only the club’s assets but also its growing list of financial woes. Any interested party had to submit a refundable deposit of R1 million, along with proof of financial capability, including the ability to cover outstanding debts.  

And the debts are massive. Chief among them is the R15 million owed to former striker Samir Nurkovic. The club was slapped with a FIFA transfer ban after refusing to pay the Serbian, even after the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) upheld the ruling. This fine is just one of many legal battles haunting the team, including another lost case against Brazilian defender Ricardo Nascimento.  

Royal AM hasn’t played a single match in 2025, with all their fixtures suspended indefinitely. With just eight points and sitting rock-bottom of the Betway Premiership, relegation is all but certain. Other teams in the league have between nine and 12 matches left, but Royal AM has managed only 11 games, their last one played in December.  

Salaries owed to current players add another layer of instability. The financial turmoil, combined with poor management, has turned Royal AM from a competitive side into a cautionary tale of what happens when off-field issues take center stage.  

Despite the turmoil, Royal AM remains an attractive prospect for investors, with reports indicating a diverse mix of local politicians, business tycoons, and international buyers vying for control. Among them is a group looking to move the club back to the Free State, with plans to revive Bloemfontein Celtic—one of South Africa’s most beloved football brands.  

Sports Minister Gayton McKenzie recently fueled speculation by revealing that a deal to bring a team back to the Free State was nearly done. “There are several prospective buyers. The auction is on Friday. The people bringing a team to Free State have basically concluded another deal and are prevented from announcing it due to an NDA. Free State soccer is definitely returning. Siwelele is coming for sure,” McKenzie said.  

What Happens Next?

With the bidding deadline now closed, the fate of Royal AM will soon be decided. The new owners will be announced on Monday, but they won’t have the luxury of time. Fixing the club’s deep-rooted issues will require immediate action.  

Can Royal AM be saved, or is this the final chapter for Thwihli Thwahla? One thing is certain—the next few days will determine whether the club finds a new lifeline or sinks further into footballing oblivion.