Durban businessman Chockalingam ‘Roy’ Moodley has emerged as the preferred buyer of Premiership club Royal AM.
While the deal has been agreed upon between Moodley’s camp and the South African Revenue Service (SARS), it is still pending approval from the Premier Soccer League (PSL) before it can be officially finalised.
SARS, seeking to recover an alleged R40 million debt from Mkhize, appointed Jaco Venter as the club’s curator.
With no immediate resolution in sight, SARS initiated proceedings to either liquidate or sell the club.
Moodley’s successful bid comes after a competitive process, with interest from bidders across South Africa and even DR Congo.
While the businessman has secured the winning bid, the deal cannot be completed until the PSL gives their official green light, which is expected to happen soon.
Royal AM players are back in training after the club was sold to KZN owner and Thwihli Thwahla last played a competitive match almost 3 months ago against TS Galaxy #ThamiSoccer pic.twitter.com/42xWoIRIgJ
— ThamiSoccer (@ThamiSoccer) March 27, 2025
While Independent Media is yet to confirm this, the PSL is said to have already raised a couple of ‘worries’ about this particular deal and buyer.
For Royal AM, the news of Moodley’s victory offers some optimism after several months of uncertainty.
The club’s players, who have been training in limbo while waiting for clarity on the ownership, were informed of the situation and returned to training on Thursday.
But despite the positive step, the lack of PSL approval means the future remains in some doubt.
Moodley, who has significant ties to the African National Congress (ANC) and former president Jacob Zuma, is seen as a strong contender to bring stability to the club.
Moodley, 71, is a prominent businessman based in Durban’s Phoenix-Mount Edgecombe area.
He is the founder of Royal Security, one of the largest private-sector safety and security companies in Kwazulu-Natal.
He has also established himself as a racehorse owner and breeder, demonstrating his diverse business interests.
🔴 Deal has NOT gone through. 🔴
— robertmarawa (@robertmarawa) March 27, 2025
We await a statement from the Curator, then League , to enter the fray and make a decision on the future (if any) of the Club.
He has also been nicknamed the ‘state capture kingpin’, with some of his businesses linked with corruption scandals dating back more than a decade.
While he is best known for his business ventures, his reported entry into football ownership has sparked interest, particularly due to his lack of prior experience in professional football management.
However, with the deal still pending, both the players and supporters are waiting for confirmation before they can move forward with confidence.
The Royal AM team have struggled this season, sitting near the bottom of the Premiership table after 11 matches, with only eight points earned so far.
To encourage a better second half of the season, Moodley has reportedly promised performance-based bonuses to the players if they can improve their results.
There are also questions about the club’s future location.
While Royal AM’s loyal fanbase have been concerned about a possible relocation, sources say the team will remain in KwaZulu-Natal for the time being, though this has not been fully confirmed.
As the PSL work through the approval process, more details will likely be revealed about the sale and the club’s plans for the remainder of the season.