South African Premier Division (PSL) side Royal AM saw its owners parade a command of flamboyance after a video emerged of them dishing out loads of cash to the team players at Chatsworth Stadium.
Royal AM football club owner Shauwn Mkhize and her son were handing out the cash. Mkhize and her son, Andile Mpisane, the club chairman, walked onto the pitch with an envelope filled with cash where they looked to line up players to hand their agreed winning bonuses in front of the cameras immediately after their victory in a DStv Premiership clash against Maritzburg United
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One member of the entourage could be heard shouting, 'come get your sweets', to the clear dismay of club captain Lesego Manganyi and match-winner Tsepho Rikhotso. Several players seemed reluctant to come forth and accept it in the video that was posted on their official Instagram account despite the scenes of excitement amongst the squad prior to their entrance on the pitch. People have taken to social media criticising the manner in which Mkhize and her son were handing out the cash, saying it was demeaning to the players.
Commenting on Facebook, one user said the Mkhize family liked showing off. Another Facebook user also expressed her reservations over the club owner’s deed. “To each their own, but I find there is something demeaning to the receiver about giving them their ’salary’ this way,” said the user. Many social media users questioned why the money was not deposited into the players’ bank accounts, saying the act was both crass and demeaning.
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South African Political analyst Makhosini Mgitywa also weighed in on the discussion over the video on social media. “I’ve been pondering the saga of Royal FM football club owner’s dishing out cash to embarrassed players on the field, in full view of news cameras. I wouldn’t do such a thing. But I don’t have the cash, so no risk there. I think we need to agree that showing off wealth in a society where the majority is poor, is in bad taste on any day of the week,” said Mgitywa.
After a tense first half, the game came alive when Victor Letsoalo put his side ahead in the 70th minute. Zukile Kewuti drew United level on the 85th minute, only for Tshepo Rikhotso to score off a rebound with one of the last kicks of the game. It was a fourth win in a row for Royal and they moved to third place on the standings. Royal AM chief executive officer Sinky Mnisi has defended their 'cash stunt' at the Chatsworth Stadium pitch as not showing off, also saying the money was not meant for player bonuses.
Mnisi says the money was not meant for the players and was a bet made for charitable causes. “It was R10 000 bets (Ksh 74,000), which the chairman also participated in with the aim of buying a full set of soccer kit to the chosen academies,” said Mnisi as per Sun Sport. “We have noticed the criticism on social media that we were paying players bonuses incentives in cash in the field, which is not the case. This is part of our team-building exercise, as well as social responsibility by thinking of developing different academies.”
Mnisi admits the actions by the club bosses could have offended a section of the South African football community. He said he personally takes “full responsibility” for the impression they gave to the public. “We understand this might have offended other people, but it was for a good cause,” Mnisi said.