Royal AM’s head coach, John Maduka, has shed light on the unexpected appearance of club chairman Andile Mpisane on the bench during their match against Kaizer Chiefs.
The two teams played a goalless draw at FNB Stadium, and Mpisane was an unused substitute.
Royal AM, still under a FIFA transfer ban, is making steady progress, having gone three games unbeaten in the league.
Their recent run has landed them in fifth place on the league table, having accumulated a decent eight points from six games.
Maduka, in the absence of new signings, has masterfully integrated young talents into his squad. What may surprise many is that Andile Mpisane, typically recognised as the club chairman, is now officially part of the playing squad. This strategic move demonstrates Maduka’s unwavering commitment to navigating the challenges posed by the transfer ban.
MADUKA SAYS ANDILE MPISANE FINISHES TRAINING SESSIONS
“He [Andile Mpisane] works. He finishes the training sessions whenever we do conditioning sessions. He’s not a player that pulls out,” he told journalists in a post-match press conference.
The Malawian mentor praised Mpisane’s work ethic despite his physical appearance. Mpisane has previously been criticised for his physical appearance, but Maduka has defended him, saying that he is a hard worker and is dedicated to the club.
“He might look the way he looks, but whenever we do training sessions, he does [manage] to finish them. The conditioning part is very tough, but he does finish.”
He revealed that the 22-year-old recently played over 70 minutes in a friendly match with no struggles.
“Last time we used him in a friendly against AmaZulu, he played over 70/75 minutes, where he never looked flat or tired. He is still part of the team.”
As the season unfolds, all eyes will remain on Royal AM to see how far they can go with their current squad.
Story by Joshua Hendricks
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