Mama Joy Chauke, South Africa’s most famous sports superfan, has shared her heartfelt hopes and prayers for Royal AM to overcome its current challenges and return to the field soon. Known for her passionate support of South Africa’s national teams and Royal AM, Mama Joy is now left without her beloved club to cheer for, following the Premier Soccer League’s (PSL) suspension of Royal AM’s fixtures in both the Betway Premiership and the Nedbank Cup.
The club, co-owned by business mogul and reality TV star Shauwn “Mam’Mkhize” Mkhize and her son Andile Mpisane, is facing significant financial troubles. These difficulties arose after the South African Revenue Service (SARS) froze the team’s funds due to a preservation order and search-and-seizure warrant issued by the KZN High Court in late 2024. Royal AM’s financial struggles have affected their ability to fulfill obligations to players and staff, forcing the PSL to suspend all their fixtures.
In the midst of Royal AM’s absence, Mama Joy attended the recent Mamelodi Sundowns vs. Orlando Pirates match at Loftus Versfeld Stadium, drawing mixed reactions from fans. Clad in a Bafana Bafana jersey, her choice to cheer for Sundowns raised eyebrows, with some accusing her of disloyalty.
Watch: Mama Joy supporting Mamelodi Sundowns and enjoying Orlando Pirates loss. @dailysunsa pic.twitter.com/Pb5kZir1aA
— Jabulani Langa (@JabulaniL2023) February 10, 2025
However, Mama Joy was quick to set the record straight. “I’m still a loyal Royal AM fan,” she clarified. “I went to the Sundowns and Pirates match just to enjoy soccer. I was not wearing a Sundowns jersey—I wore a Bafana Bafana jersey because I was supporting Bafana players from both teams.”
Mama Joy emphasized her unwavering loyalty to Royal AM and explained that her presence at the match was a one-off event driven by her deep love for football. “As fans, our work is to support the club on the field. We pray to God to bring our team back,” she said.
Critics also speculated about the possibility of Mama Joy returning to her former club, Orlando Pirates, whom she famously left in 2021. However, she dismissed the idea. “I’m not going to support Bucs. I don’t regret my decision to leave them,” she stated firmly, reiterating her commitment to Royal AM.
For now, Mama Joy remains hopeful that her beloved team will soon resolve its off-field issues and reclaim its spot on the pitch, where she and other loyal fans can once again rally behind them.