Royal AM's FIFA transfer ban, which has seen them unable to register players prior to the current season, has boosted the fortunes of Chairman Andile Mpisane.
Mpisane, who wears the jersey number 10 at his own club, struggled to break into the team in previous seasons.
He did not get any minute on the field in the side's first season in the topflight (2021/22), after they bought the status of Bloemfontein Celtic.
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In the subsequent campaign, the 23-year-old was only given two minutes the entire season, after only featuring in a blink-and-you-missed it cameo, in the last eight minutes of a goalless draw against Richards Bay FC.
As he was getting a little bit older but also after the KwaZulu-Natal side were hit with the FIFA transfer ban in July 2023, for an alleged termination of Samir Nurkovic's contract without just cause, Mpisane made his first elite division start six months down the line in a derby against AmaZulu FC.
However, in that game, John Maduka's charges conceded three goals in the first 32 minutes and the Chairman was eventually replaced at half-time, with the damage already done after they lost 3-0.
There were suggestions from analysts and legends after the game that Mpisane did not track back and therefore made Royal AM vulnerable when defending.
That was the only start the midfielder made in the 2023/24 season.
However, as the transfer ban continued, with the squad getting thinner and head coach John Maduka, running out of options, has had no choice but to field his boss.
All the accusations of the Chairman not covering every blade of grass have simmered down, as Royal AM are yet to lose in all five league games he has played this season (including four as a starter).
The Malawian tactician did not take risks against reigning champions Mamelodi Sundowns after Mpisane was an unused substitute in a 2-1 defeat, their only loss in the league thus far and the only league game he missed out of six.
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Maduka would probably still be asking himself if they would still be in the Carling Knockout had he reserved the man paying his salary, after he also started against Cape Town City in the round of 16 clash.
However, after conceding two goals, the coach took Mpisane off early in the second stanza, but it was too late, as the Citizens eventually won 3-0.