Royal AM coach Abram Nteo refused to be drawn in on the matter regarding the disappearance of coach Khabo Zondo from the bench, only saying the management will release a statement.
Zondo was conspicuously not part of Royal AM when they drew 0-0 with TS Galaxy in the DStv Premiership match at Chatsworth Stadium on Tuesday.
Nteo was running things solo, with Zondo last forming part of the side in the 2-1 loss to Cape Town City when the season resumed over the weekend.
According to iDiski Times sources, the experienced Zondo has been redeployed to be the Head of the Development, but again no one at the club publicly confirmed the change.
“It is an internal matter and when the time is right the club will release a statement but let’s keep it internal,” said Nteo after the game.
When pressed on the matter just for clarity purposes, Nteo was unmoved.
“He still part of our club but it is internal matter.”
When also asked if he is taking over the Head of Development role at the club, Nteo said he is not aware of that
“I’m not sure about that, but it is something you guys must wait and you will get to know the reasons,” he said.
According to iDiski Times sources, this is the only way for the club’s president Shauwn Mkhize to get rid of Zondo.
This is second time Zondo has faced an uncertain future with Royal AM this season. In October against SuperSport United where they lost 2-1 in Pretoria, Zondo was not part of the travelling side, with Nteo then already having to answer tough questions and at times not comfortable to answer them.
At the time, MaMkhize said Zondo, who was appointed as the co-coach at the beginning of the season, was left behind so that he can prepare the other half of the squad for the CAF Confederation Cup first leg against ZESCO United in the second preliminary round.
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From the onset, MaMkhize was never in favour of Zondo’s appointment, according to a source, as he was brought in by former club CEO Sinky Mnisi. The latter and Zondo come a long way, having worked together at Tembisa Classic.
Zondo’s appointment was also very bizarre as he had not coached in top flight football since June 2009 when he was in charge of Bay United. He coached Royal Eagles, the club that was co-owned by MaMkhize but in the Motsepe Foundation Championship from November 2015 until April 2016. That was the last time he was the coach in the PSL before Royal AM appointed him at the beginning of the season.
