Fans slam Royal AM chairman Andile Mpisane as he starts third Betway Prem match against Richards Bay
Fans have slammed Royal AM chairman Andile Mpisane, who started his third Betway Premiership match, in his side's 0-0 draw against Richards Bay FC at the Harry Gwala Stadium on Tuesday night.
The 23-year-old Mpisane, wearing jersey number 10, had previously started in the "Thwihli Thwahla" 0-0 draw against SuperSport United at the TUT Stadium last Saturday, as well as against Cape Town City.
Similar to the first game last Saturday, his teammates were hesitant to pass him the ball and he spent most of the first half running around and marking.
Mpisane touched the ball less than 10 times in his 45 minutes on the pitch, showboating in two possessions as he sat down while in possession, while he also achieved a no look pass which excited the Pietermaritzburg crowd.
Mpisane’s mother, Shauwn Mkhize, owns the Royal AM FC, a team she acquired from Real Kings in 2019. Her son was later appointed as its chairman, despite him also being an active footballer. The AM in Royal AM stands for Andile Mpisane.
Meanwhile, Mpisane was eventually dragged off at half-time as head coach John Maduka looked to strengthen the team which looked like it had been playing with 10 men for the entire first half.
After the game, fans took to social media and criticised Mpisane, with many stating that he was not good enough to play in the top flight of South African football.
Andile Mpisane is substituted at half-time but he certainly enjoyed today's match 😂![CDATA[]]>👇
— SuperSport Football ⚽️ (@SSFootball) September 24, 2024
📺 Stream #BetwayPrem on DStv: https://t.co/B0jLrQW5cc@Betway_za pic.twitter.com/NEBgye5789
@Sli_Simelane Reacting to Mpisane’s name being among the starters on Tuesday, was proof that money can buy anything.
“Andile Mpisane being part of the starting lineup when his pace drops within 5 minutes is proof that money can buy absolutely anything.🥲”
Andile Mpisane being part of the starting lineup when his pace drops within 5 minutes is proof that money can buy absolutely anything.🥲
— Isfundiswa🎓 (@Sli_Simelane) September 24, 2024
While @SkepeMatsebane said Mpisane’s presence in the starting line-up showns that football was not taken serious as a sport in the country.
“The things that people like Andile Mpisane do are proof that we don’t take football serious in this country”.
The things that people like Andile Mpisane do are proof that we don’t take football serious in this country.
— A Dog That Bites (@SkepeMatsebane) September 24, 2024
@Sthe_Ndlovu Said the Mpisane was making a mockery of the beautiful game.
“Andile Mpisane is making a mockery of a profession that people take seriously”.
However, as others criticized the chairman, @chilly_machilly defended and suggested that jealousy was at the center of the criticism.
“I'll never understand the hate on Andile Mpisane. Other players are being encouraged to showboat, but when he does it's sad to be making mockery of football? Nah, it's gotta be jealousy 🫰😂”
After three matches, Royal AM are in ninth place on the league table with only three points collected and will lock horns against Magesi FC in their next encounter on Saturday.
Should the chairman start again?
IOL Sport