Royal AM president, Shauwn MamMkhize has explained why the club decided to buy a women’s team.
Mkhize confirmed on Friday that Royal AM had bought the status of Bloemfontein Celtic Ladies and the process has been approved by the South African Football Association.
Thwihli Thwahla become only the third DStv Premiership team behind Mamelodi Sundowns and TS Galaxy to have a women’s team, with MamMkhize insisting the women’s game deserves more credit in South Africa – in particular with Banyana Banyana’s recent exploits.
“This announcement is very close to my heart. As a women I felt like women’s soccer was underrated,” she said on Friday during a media briefing at the Royal AM ranch attended by iDiski Times.
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“They’ve been in the final for a fifth time but I don’t hear the noise. I don’t see the support. I feel like they’re not supported.
“I thought let me step in to bring the change. We stepped in as Royal AM and bought a franchise for the ladies team, which is competing in the womens league.
“SAFA have approved it. We’re proud to announce that Royal AM is now going to have Royal AM Ladies.”
Mkhize also confirmed that his son’s wife Tamia Mpisane will be the deputy chair lady of the club, while World Sports Betting will be involved with CSI projects around the club.
“We’ve bought a club from Bloemfontein, we’ll play our home games at Mpumalanga Stadium in Hammarsdale, KwaZulu-Natal. Currently we are number on the log, there is 10 more games to go,” she added.
“Tamia Mpisane is going to be the deputy chair lady for the womens team. I’m not going to change much on the technical team but I’d love to see a female coach. That’s what Tamia and myself will be working towards.
“This is not for us as a family but it’s for the whole country that we’re entering the womens team. As Royal AM we’re very excited, we want to grow, grow bigger and grow bigger.”
