Seasoned Royal AM defender Thabo Matlaba has spoken out on his future at the club as his contract nears its conclusion.
The former Orlando Pirates fullback is out of contract in June 2024, having spent the last two years at the Durban side. He joined them in February 2022 after cutting ties with DStv Premiership side Moroka Swallows.
With a transfer ban hanging over the club, Royal AM have relied on the experience of the likes of Matlaba this season. He has featured in 13 of their 15 games, scoring twice and assisting once.
The 36-year-old insists he is not fazed by the approaching deadline and has put the ball back in Royal AM’s court regarding his future with the club. Matlaba expects the club to initiate talks if they want him to stay.
“I’m not worried at all,” Matlaba told FARPost. “I’m not supposed to go to them about contracts. The club is supposed to approach me if they still want me.”
Matlaba remains committed to contributing to Royal AM’s success. “I’ll keep working hard to help the team stay in the top eight. I’ll do my best.”
THABO MATLABA REVEALS ROYAL AM’S AUDACIOUS TARGET FOR THE SEASON
The club set their sights high for the season, with coach John Maduka targeting a top-eight finish. They are currently 14th with 18 points after 15 games. Nonetheless, Matlaba is banking on the league’s volatility. “You win two games, you’re there; you win one game, you’re there. It’s all about consistency.” Interestingly, eighth-placed TS Galaxy are three points ahead of Royal AM.
Matlaba expressed disappointment with the AFCON break, saying it would kill their momentum. While they ended the year with a 3-0 loss to AmaZulu, they had won two of their last four matches. The other match ended in a draw.
“We’ll start again from the bottom, review what we did in the first half of the season, and take it from there.”
Matlaba’s calm confidence and dedication to the club’s goals put the onus on Royal AM to decide his future. Whether they value his experience and leadership enough to offer him a new deal remains to be seen. Meanwhile, Matlaba is ready to make the most of his remaining six months, both on and off the field, regardless of what the future holds.
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