Royal AM in crisis? Matlaba sheds light on transfer ban’s Impact

Royal AM defender Thabo Matlaba has shed light on the impact caused by the FIFA transfer ban on the club this season.

The world football governing body, FIFA imposed a transfer ban on the club following their unresolved despite with former Kaizer Chiefs striker Samir Nurkovic. This was after the club failed to pay Nurkovic as instructed by FIFA.

Failure to bring in fresh faces in the team has led to the club’s struggles for form and consistency this season.

Halfway through in the 2023/24 DStv Premiership season, Thwihli Thwahla find themselves in the danger zone. They lay 14th after accumulating 18 points from 15 matches. To add, they have failed to impress in the Carling Knockout Cup. They were eliminated in the Round of 16, they lost 1-0 against Sekhukhune United.

THABO MATLABA OPENS UP ON ROYAL AM TRANSFER BAN

Matlaba says the transfer ban is making players become too comfortable and relaxed because there is no new competition in the team.

“You know in every team there are reinforcements. Mamelodi Sundowns; the team that is winning games and winning cups are reinforcing,” Matlaba told FARPost.

“We also needed to reinforce as a team, in South Africa we’re used to reinforce, bring in new faces to help us.

“When there are new players, there is competition in the team, people will want to prove themselves. We are too comfortable as players if we see we can’t sign any new players. We become complacency, we are too comfortable.

For the remainder of the season, the KZN side will be aiming to improve their performances so they finish in a better position than last season. The club finished in the 11th place, therefore missed out on the MTN8.

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