Magesi FC coach Owen da Gama has stated that focusing on Royal AM’s situation would be a waste of time when asked if it provided his team with a cushion against immediate relegation.

Da Gama, who replaced Clinton Larsen earlier this year, acknowledged the PSL’s difficult predicament, due to the walkover cannot be granted due to the unforeseen circumstances surrounding Shauwn Mkhize’s club.

Royal AM currently sits at the bottom of the table, having not played a match in 2025 due to the South African Revenue Service (SARS) seizing the club’s assets. SARS is reportedly demanding R40 million from club owner Shauwn Mkhize.

The club’s affairs are now managed by curator Jaco Venter, appointed by SARS to oversee daily operations. Recently, Venter approached the high court seeking either the club’s liquidation or sale. The court opted for the latter, leaving Royal AM’s future uncertain. The club’s last match was on 29 December, a loss to TS Galaxy.

Due to Royal AM’s inactivity, Magesi FC, previously at the bottom, has climbed to 15th place in the Betway Premiership table with 14 points from 18 matches, six points clear of the bottom.

A 15th-place finish would secure Magesi a chance to avoid a straight relegation but enter the promotion/relegation playoffs.

“The situation with Royal AM, we don’t even think about that,” da Gama said after his side’s 3-0 loss to AmaZulu at Moses Mabhida Stadium on Saturday night.

“You think that you are there (bottom) and if you don’t move two or three places up, you are going to be relegated. So, we are not even considering that, we are not even thinking about Royal AM because it’s a big uncertainty that we don’t know what is going to happen. 

“So, we are focusing on getting out of that bottom five. If we can get out there, it’s going to help us.” 

The loss to AmaZulu ended Magesi’s two-game winning streak, leaving them one point behind 14th-placed Marumo Gallants. Gallants recently dismissed coach Dan Malesela, a decision made on Friday.