Royal AM coach John Maduka says it has been difficult pre-season for the KwaZulu-Natal club after they were slapped with a transfer ban by Fifa.

Royal AM’s failure to pay Serbian striker Samir Nurkovic after they signed him last season, but then did not use him, has seen the club banned from making any transfers until they settle the debt.

Royal AM are contesting the decision but while their appeal waits to be heard by the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Switzerland, they may not buy or sell any players.

“It’s very difficult you know. Every start of the new season you always look to find a way to refresh the team but faced with a challenge like this (the transfer ban) it become a problem,” he said at SuperSport’s launch of the new DStv Premiership in Johannesburg.

“But at the same time, it is an opportunity for the players who are available, to grab this opportunity with both hands.”

Royal AM are the latest South African club to fall foul of Fifa after not paying players or transfer fees. In the past, clubs like AmaZulu and Kaizer Chiefs have also not been allowed to make any transfers while they settle outstanding debt.

Royal AM allegedly owe Nurkovic R12-million after he signed a two-year contract with them at the start of the last season.

But the striker, who had left Chiefs after three years, was told to leave Royal AM not long after, as he struggled to recover from knee surgery.

Nurkovic took Royal AM to Fifa to force them to pay out his contract but owner Shauwn Mkhize has refused, challenging the Fifa decision at CAS.

Royal AM claimed last week that the ban was lifted while CAS waited to hear their case but this has been repudiated by the court.

Maduka said of his boss: “She supports the team in this situation that we are.

“If this ban stays the way it is, luckily we have a lot of players from last season, although some have left, most of them are still available and we have young exciting players from our Diski team, who can come in and help.

“We will give our best, as we normally do, and try and take Royal AM to another level,” Maduka added.