Zondo staying put at Royal AM

Royal AM co-coach Khabo Zondo has reiterated that he is still with the club. Zondo was at the club’s training session on Friday ahead of their clash against Zambia’s Zesco.

They host Zesco in the CAF Confederation Cup on Sunday for the first leg, the second preliminary-round encounter.

Earlier in the week, Royal AM owner Shauwn “MaMkhize” Mkhize said Zondo was still with the club.

This came after media reports on Monday suggesting that the former Tembisa Classic, Bloemfontein Celtic and Golden Arrows coach had left the club.

“The president [Shauwn Mkhize] responded, and you all heard, I’m not responding to any questions [regarding my reported exit from the club,” he told journalists.

Fellow co-coach Dan Malesela recently left the club, rejoining Marumo Gallants a few days later.

Interestingly, Zondo did not travel to Pretoria for their DStv Premiership clash against SuperSport on Tuesday.

With former South Africa Under 23 ace Abram ‘Wire’ Nteo in the dugout, SuperSport beat them 3-1.

However, it was Zondo’s absence that raised eyebrows, with reports swelling that he may have left the club.

However, MaMkhize explained the situation before their league match against SuperSport.

“We have two different teams because we do not want our players to suffer from fatigue. So, coach Zondo has stayed behind with the team that is going to be playing on Sunday in the Caf Confederation Cup.

“Zondo is still our coach, and reports like this are unsettling the club because people end up not understanding what is happening. Today a coach is here, tomorrow the coach is not there — it is not right.”

Zondo will still not sit on the bench for the CAF clash as he does not hold the requisite qualifications.