In an exclusive interview with KickOff, Royal AM striker Sedwyn George candidly discussed the troubles facing the club.
Last Thursday, the Premier Soccer League's board of governors voted to terminate Royal AM's membership with immediate effect.
As a result, George is actively searching for a new team in the Betway Premiership or the Motsepe Foundation Championship while training with his Thwihli Thwahla teammates to stay fit.
READ | EXPLAINED: 'All Royal AM players will become free agents'
"I'm still looking for a team; it could be either a PSL team or one from the NFD," he reveals.
"I haven't played in a long time, so I need to get back on the field. I'm eager to play. I'm mainly disappointed about the PSL's decision. If there’s still a glimmer of hope, I'm not certain. Nevertheless, I still hope things work out for everyone in the team."
George noted that management had addressed the players, encouraging them to remain strong and resilient.
"We are still training together as a team, hoping to see any changes happen soon. Some players have left, but the club has advised us to keep training, as they still hope for a turnaround."
He expressed his disappointment, stating, "It's not that we weren’t getting paid while at Royal AM; there were just slight delays each month. The club always made an effort to ensure we were compensated, and we appreciate that. However, it's tough for players to train while uncertain about our future."
George added, "With the PSL grant now gone, I don't expect to be paid moving forward unless the club finds a solution. They haven't confirmed whether we are free agents; we’re still under contract, which is why we've continued to train. Over 20 players are still with the team, including those on the Diski team. Personally, I live in Maritzburg with my family."
READ | EXPLAINED: 'All Royal AM players will become free agents'
He remarked, "The life of a footballer is challenging, my brother! This has been the worst experience of my football career."
The marksman also explained his recent social media post thanking the club.
"I wanted to express my gratitude to the club for everything. The chairlady is passionate about football, and I appreciate what she has done for me and the team. I hope things improve for them in the future. The chairlady built a great brand; it would be unfair to see the name Royal AM fade away and be forgotten. Everything began to unravel when the curatorship took over the team, leading to the financial delays."
