Royal AM administrator Sinky Mnisi has clarified his role at the club, stating that he is the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) rather than the Chief Operations Officer (COO) as previously reported by the club.

Mnisi, who recently returned to Royal AM, was initially announced as the club’s COO. However, he has now corrected this information, asserting that he is the CEO, a position he held prior to his departure at the end of last season.

“I’m the club CEO, not the COO,” said Mnisi.

The experienced Mnisi was holding the CEO position before he departed at the end of the 2022/23 season, having accused the club of not protecting him from malicious accusations.   

He was initially given a “special leave” before he left. Sportswire was informed that he was allegedly involved in the mishandling of Samir Nurkovic where it is alleged that the club did not conduct the medical.  

The former Kaizer Chiefs striker joined the club ahead of the 2022/23 season, but his stay was short-lived, with Royal AM terminating his contract as they felt he was dishonest because he arrived injured. As Royal AM released him without settlement, the player took the matter to FIFA.  

FIFA came back with the verdict and the club was banned in signing new players both locally and internationally until Nurkovic had been paid R12 million along with interest.  

But Royal AM has not paid and has since appealed the ban to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) and the matter should have taken place on 13 September, but it has been postponed to 11 October.  

However, Royal AM president Shauwn Mkhize, at the start of last season, accused Nurkovic of seeking financial retirement from the club and that he was dishonest because he didn’t declare to them that he had a long-term injury.  

As Royal AM cannot sign new players for the third transfer window now, Mnisi said he is back to tackle this matter and the club will finish in the top eight at the end of this season.  

“I’m here, I’m back at Royal AM and we are going back to the top eight, that’s all I want to say now, period,” said Mnisi who was reluctant to speak to the media. 

“The rest I will divulge when the time is right.” 

When pressed why he was confident of finishing in the top eight. “No, no comment,” he said before adding. 

“I will give you all the details at a later stage. But I’m happy.” 

To finish in the top eight is not something new with Royal AM. Mnisi was at the club when MaMkhize bought the status of Bloemfontein Celtic ahead of the 2021/22 season.  

Mnisi promised that Royal AM would finish in the top eight and the club did, finishing third and qualifying for the CAF Confederation Cup. 

“When we bought the status, we ended number three,” said Mnisi. 

“But for now, I’m not prepared to say much. I will have a proper press conference where I will inform everybody what are the plans for this team. They are good players here. 

“But this club will finish in the top eight.”  

When Mnisi was pressed that the club at the stage they needed to talk openly, especially about the issue of the FIFA transfer ban on how they were going to solve it.  

As they are faced with the FIFA ban, they can’t register new players even in the reserve league to play in the DStv Diski Challenge.  

The club has missed the first three DDC matches, but the source said Royal AM is sorting that matter out by getting players from their development. 

“Let’s deal with things on the field of play first,” said Mnisi when he was pressed that KZN at large is concerned about the state of affairs at the club. 

“Don’t worry. Since I’m here, we will release a statement to (invite you for the press conference) talk to you guys (media).”