It affected us deeply

Former Royal AM left-back Thabo Matlaba has experienced more ups than downs in the last few months - from seeing his side go under SARS curatorship, to the team being expelled by the PSL before he joined Golden Arrows.

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Behind the fearless footballer is a man shaped by humble beginnings, family values, and a deep sense of responsibility. In this wide-ranging interview with Soccer Laduma’s Masebe Qina, Matlaba opens up about his shock exit from Royal AM, the impact on his teammates, career highlights, his love for Orlando Pirates, and the honest conversations that shaped the course of his career - including a revealing moment involving club boss Dr Irvin Khoza.

Masebe Qina: Festival, congratulations on your move to Golden Arrows. How are you feeling about this new chapter in your career?

Thabo Matlaba: Thank you. But with regard to Golden Arrows and anything related to the team, I'd prefer that the club speaks on my behalf. I hope you understand.

MQ: We respect that. Moving on, your exit from Royal AM came under difficult circumstances following the club’s PSL membership cancellation. How did that affect you personally and professionally?

TM: To be honest, it’s one of the saddest things to ever happen in PSL history. No one expected a club's membership to be terminated while there were still games remaining. I had hoped for a resolution, but unfortunately, it came down to the club's membership being revoked — a heartbreaking decision caused by circumstances beyond the club’s control. It affected us deeply as players. We thought we’d still get a chance to play those remaining games. We hadn’t played competitive football since December. Then suddenly, you find yourself out of contract. That's extremely difficult for any player.

MQ: What was it like for the players waiting for the PSL’s decision during all those weeks?

TM: Like everyone else, we waited for the outcome. The club kept updating us on what was happening. From the PSL’s side, we were in the dark — we were never called or briefed. But Royal AM’s management did their best to keep us informed.