Roy Moodley Is Reportedly The New Owner Of Mamkhize's Royal Am

Businessman Chockalingam Roy Moodley is the new owner of Premier Soccer League PSL club Royal AM, according to a Sportswire report on Thursday 27 March.

Royal AM has been under curatorship by the South African Revenue Service SARS, which is seeking to recover an alleged R40 million tax debt allegedly owed by the clubs previous owner, entrepreneur Shauwn MaMkhize Mkhize and others.

Sportswire reported that Moodley edged out other bidders from Russia and Greece to take ownership of Royal AM. The PSLs executive committee was set to meet on Thursday to approve the sale, it added.

The Durban-based Moodley is the founder of Royal Security, a closed corporation that provides security services. Last year, it won a R282 million security contract with the Western Cape provincial government, with his son Magesh listed as its sole member.

Moodley has previously been associated with former President Jacob Zuma. His entities were allegedly implicated in alleged state capture contracts at state-owned entity Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa PRASA.

The state capture commission, which was chaired by former Chief Justice Raymond Zondo, also heard that Royal Security had allegedly paid Zuma a salary of R64,000 per month, some during the initial months of his presidency.

Royal AM has not featured in the Betway Premiership or Nedbank Cup since December last year after the curatorship impacted on its ability to honour fixtures.

As a result, it is currently last on the PSL log having played just 11 matches so far. Additionally, it has just one win, five draws and five losses, adding up to a paltry eight points.

Despite MaMkhizes best efforts that included a failed court bid, SARS won the right to sell Royal AM in February by way of an auction. In January, the PSL also suspended the troubled sides matches until further notice.

Reports suggest that its players have returned to training as prospects of a possible return to action increase. Along with the technical staff, they reportedly boycotted training in January over salary non-payment.