Abram Nteo’s days as the head coach of Royal AM could be numbered, with John Maduka considered for a potential return, according to iDiski Times sources.
This comes after Royal AM boss Shauwn Mkhize was left unimpressed with the loss 3-1 to Maritzburg United at Harry Gwala Stadium on Sunday.
MaMkhize, according to our sources, held a meeting with the club’s technical staff at Beverly Hills hotel in Umhlanga on Tuesday and “things were very tense”.
The discussions were about how the club can improve the results, as they have won two of their last 12 games in all competitions.
Of the last nine Dstv Premiership games, Royal AM have lost six and have dropped into 10th place. While they sit level win points with eighth-placed Cape Town City, they are also just three points ahead of the relegation/promotion playoff spot.
It seems Nteo, if he can’t get a win over Chippa United at Chatsworth Stadium on Saturday (15:30), his head will be on the chopping block and the club will either fire him or add someone to work with him.
Nteo, who was appointed as the co-coach of Royal AM alongside Dan Malesela and Khabo Zondo ahead of the 2022/23 season after coach Maduka left to join Maritzburg United, is running things solo after Malesela left and Zondo was seemingly demoted.
Malesela re-joined Marumo Gallants in September last year and Zondo was deployed after the club’s 2-1 loss to Cape Town City in the first game of 2023 when the season resumed post the 2022 FIFA World Cup break.
Nteo has been running sole in three matches since, winning one, losing one and the drawing the other. The club lie 10th in the DStv Premiership table with 20 points after 16 matches.
They have conceded more (23) than they have scored (18) thus far, with only six wins and eight losses to show in the league this season, which has left MaMkhize worried.
Maduka, who has since been released by Maritzburg in November, has been discussed within the club, having helped Royal AM to a surprise third spot finish and qualification for the CAF Confederation Cup in their club’s maiden top flight campaign last term.
It was one of the surprise stories of the season after MaMkhize only purchased Bloemfontein Celtic’s status four days before the 2021/22 campaign started.
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Over the whole of last season, Royal AM only lost seven league games under Maduka, with the Malawian tactician being named Coach of the Month in March last year, while Mxolisi Macuphu was named Player of the Month – which were the first individual awards for the club.
Story by Robin-Duke Madlala (@duke_robin).