Maritzburg United and Chippa United are monitoring the impasse of Ndumiso Mabena at Royal AM and are keen to sign him before the transfer window closes on Thursday evening, iDiski Times has learnt.
Mabena is in dispute with Royal AM, who looked to offload him to Swallows during the off-season without the player’s consent.
However, Mabena did not agree to join Swallows, where Royal AM made him a makeweight in exchange for Khetukuthula Ndlovu and Ruzaigh Gamildien joining the club.
This has led to Mabena not being paid salaries in July and August by Royal AM, who he has a contract with until the end of the season.
However, Mabena took the matter to the labour court and won the case last Friday. The court instructed Royal AM to pay Mabena and they were given a deadline until this coming Friday. Failure to do that, will be in contempt of court.
iDiski Times has learnt that Royal AM are looking to part ways with Mabena because his salary package is understood to be too steep and club president Shauwn Mkhize is desperate for him to go, which is the reason why she has frozen him out.
“I can’t comment because we are in the middle of the dispute,” his agent Machine Motloung said.
However, iDiski Times sources understand that both Maritzburg and Chippa are watching the Mabena matter closely – while Orlando Pirates have also been mooted as a possible destination.
“Maritzburg United have tabled an offer for Mabena if his matter with Royal AM [is resolved],” said the source. “Chippa has approached Royal AM and the club told us that Chippa wants him.”
Maritzburg’s interest doesn’t come as a surprise as Mabena worked well with John Maduka, who took Royal AM to third place last term when he was the club coach.
Maduka also coached Mabena extensively at Bloemfontein Celtic where the 35-year-old was the captain before MaMkhize bought the club’s DStv Premiership status at the beginning of last season.
The iDiski Times source further added that if Mabena’s matter is not sorted out on Thursday’s transfer deadline day, he will need to wait until the next transfer window to be registered with a new club.
“Unfortunately he will have to continue with the dispute with Royal AM until he is compensated. He will have to wait for the next window to find a new club because he’s still contracted with Royal AM
“As much as he hasn’t been registered by Royal AM, he still has a contract with them and he’s not a free agent. If he was a free agent they were going to find him a club even after the window was closed.”
Mabena lost his place in the second half of last season at Royal AM after the arrival of Mxolisi Macuphu from TS Galaxy in the January transfer window. And this season he has not played, leading to the dispute.
