Former Royal AM chairman Andile Mpisane is on the verge of making a return to the pitch, with reports in Eswatini confirming his registration as a new Mbabane Highlanders AM player.
Throughout his professional career, Mpisane has only played for clubs owned by his mother, Shauwn Mkhize. The 24-year-old midfielder kicked off his career in the National First Division for Royal Eagles, a club that his parents owned.
After a disputed divorce settlement between his parents, Mpisane moved with his mother to the new club, Real Kings, which was subsequently renamed Royal AM.
In 2021, MaMkhize acquired the PSL top-flight status of Bloemfontein Celtic. She proceeded to rename the club Royal AM and relocated to Pietermaritzburg. She added the AM trademark as initials in honour of his son and club chairman, Andile Mpisane.
Mpisane virtually served as the Royal AM chairman and player until PSL disbanded the club. The came courtesy of MaMkhize’s tax evasion cases with the South African Revenue Service [SARS], leading to the curatorship of the club.
The flashy Qqom music artist also casually dabbles in other career ventures while playing professional football on the side.
MPISANE RESURFACES IN ESWATINI
After the expulsion of Royal AM and the seizure of multiple assets, Mpisane’s mother sought to maintain her involvement in football. She, however, looked beyond the confines of South African borders.
In July, the Eswatini top-flight club, Mbabane Highlanders, announced the Durban-born business tycoon as the new club president. As per routine, MaMkhize wasted no time in adding her signature trademark to the name of her new club. A new era at Highlanders, as the club is now known, Mbabane Highlanders AM.
Routinely, another customary development in MaMkhize’s clubs has followed the name changes. According to reports in Eswatini, Highlanders have registered 10 new players for the new season. Amongst the 10 players is the club president’s son, Mpisane.
In a Metro FM interview, MaMkhize had reiterated that her son is unlikely to feature at her new club. Hence, unlike the previous instances, this development was rather unprecedented.
Reports further reveal that Mpisane will don his regular number 10 jersey, as he previously did at Royal AM.