Arrows Sign Royal AM Trio After Stunning Chiefs Victory
Lamontville Golden Arrows, riding high after their 2-1 victory over Kaizer Chiefs in the Betway Premiership match at Moses Mabhida Stadium on Saturday, have signed three players from Royal AM.
The newly acquired players, Shadrack Kobedi, Sabelo Sithole, and Ayabule Maxwele, join Arrows from a Royal AM side currently under curatorship and subject to auction by the South African Revenue Service (SARS).
Royal AM’s financial troubles, stemming from a substantial debt of approximately R40 million owed to SARS by club owner Shauwn Mkhize, nearly resulted in the club’s sale on Thursday and have prevented them from playing any matches in 2025.
Capitalizing on the situation, Arrows signed the players, who rightfully walked from their contracts with Royal AM due to their inactivity since December.
Kobedi and Maxwele were on the bench during Arrows’ historic 2-1 victory over Chiefs at Moses Mabhida Stadium on Saturday, their first home league win against the team at the venue. At the same time, Sithole was not included in the matchday squad.
Coach Manqoba Mngqithi, visibly delighted with the win, expressed surprise at the signings during the post-match press conference.
“I did not know how we got them,” Mngqithi said, eliciting laughter from the journalists.
“I was happy to have them. But as to how it happened, the mechanism I cannot tell you.
“But the truth is, it is pleasing to have them.”
Mngqithi, who is in third stints with the club, continued:
“I was not part of the process. But they are brilliant players, they are going to add value in our squad.
“Even Sithole could have played on Saturday, but physically we have put him under a lot of stress in the last two weeks, a few days maybe and we really pushed these boys to the limit because we are trying to improve the conditions of the team so that they can play this intensity game because they were not used to it.
“So, we felt we might lose a player with such big muscles if we stretch him into a game of this intensity and that’s why he was not in the team. But we are very happy to have him as well.”
Maxwele notably scored the equalizer in Royal AM’s 2-2 draw against Chiefs at Peter Mokaba Stadium in November.
The victory over Chiefs leaves Arrows in 10th place on the Betway Premiership table with 27 points from 20 matches.
