Moroka Swallows FC

Football club infobox
clubname = Moroka Swallows


fullname = Moroka Swallows Football Club
nickname = "The Birds, The Beautiful Birds,
The Dube Birds"
founded = October 10, 1947
ground = Germiston Stadium, Germiston
capacity = 18000
chairman = Leon Prins
sponsor: Volkswagen
supplier: Mitre
manager = flagicon|Brazil Julio Cesar Leal|
league = ABSA Premiership
season = 2007-08
position = ABSA Premiership, 7th |

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Moroka Swallows are a South African football (soccer) club based in Johannesburg that participates in the Premier Soccer League.

History

The club was founded in the 1940s by a trio of soccer lovers, Ishmael Lesolang, Strike Makgatha and Johnny Kubheka.

They originally named the side "Congregated Rovers" after the firm in which most of the players and officials worked, later changing it to "Moroka Rovers".

But then, on the 10 October 1947, the trio decided to change the name again to "Moroka Swallows", basing themselves in the township formally known as Masakeng.

The name has lasted for the best part of 55 years, a period which has seen consistent success both on the field and off it.

The 1950s and 1960s were a successful time for the club, culminating in their greatest ever achievement, winning the South African League title in 1965.

Off the field, the club was becoming a business and in 1971 they became the first ever soccer team to register as a public company.

That same year they were also the first to receive an official sponsorship when Teljoy began their association with the club.

The decade between 1982 and 1992 was a successful one for the team, culminating in four pieces of silverware.

In 2007, the club celebrated its 60th anniversary.

Honours

*SA Soccer League champions: 1965
*Mainstay Cup winners: 1983
*Bob Save Super Bowl winners: 1989, 1981
*Absa Cup winners: 2004
*BP Top Eight Cup winners: 1975, 1979
*Sales House Cup winners: 1978

Club records

*Most starts: Andries Mpondo 395
*Most goals: Thomas Hlongwane 73
*Most capped player: Jacob Lekgetho 8 (South Africa)
*Most starts in a season: Andries Mpondo 49 (1986)
*Most goals in a season: Thomas Hlongwane 27 (1985)
*Record Victory: 8-0 vs African Wanderers (29/9/91, NSL)
*Record Defeat: 2-6 vs Hellenic (7/3/85, Sales House Cup); Rangers (3/7/87, NSL)

Premier Soccer League record

*2008 - 7th
*2007 - 3rd
*2006 - 4th
*2005 - 5th
*2004 - 7th
*2003 - 4th
*2002 - 6th
*2001 - 15th
*2000 - 12th
*1999 - 15th
*1998 - 11th
*1997 - 11th

2007/2008 season

eason record

*ABSA Premiership - 7th
*Nedbank Cup - last 16
*Telkom Knockout - last 16
*SAA Supa 8 - quarterfinals
*Telkom Charity Cup - not voted in

PSL top scorers

1. James Chamanga 14
2. Sandile Ndlovu 11
3. Bevan Fransman 3
4. Tsweu Mokoro 2
4. Cecil Oerson 2
4. Maimane Phiri 2

Club awards

Player of the Season: James Chamanga
Players' Player of the Season: Bevan Fransman
Most Improved Player: Vincent Kobola
Young Player of the Season: Ramahlwe Mphahlele
Top Goal-scorer: James Chamanga

Club officials/Technical team

*Chairman: flagicon|South Africa Leon Prins
*General manager: flagicon|South Africa Sipho Xulu
*Coach: flagicon|Zimbabwe Ian Gorowa
*Assistant coach: TBA
*Goalkeeper coach: flagicon|Zambia Shadrack Biemba

2007/2008 First team squad

"As of January 31 2008"

Foreigners

In the South African PSL, only five non-South African nationals can be registered. Players with foreign and South African citizenship as well as Namibians born before 1990 do not count as foreigners.

*flagicon|Zambia James Chamanga
*flagicon|Nigeria Greg Etafia
*flagicon|Zimbabwe Evans Gwekwerere
*flagicon|Zambia Songwe Chalwe
*flagicon|Malawi Hellings Mwakasungula
*flagicon|Namibia George Hummel
*flagicon|Malawi flagicon|South Africa Patrick Mabedi
*flagicon|Zimbabwe flagicon|South Africa Edzai Kasinauyo

2008/2009 Transfers

In:
flagicon|South Africa Ryan Botha - Thanda Royal Zulu

Out:
flagicon|Zambia James Chamanga - Dalian Haichang, China

flagicon|Malawi Hellings Mwakasungula - Black Aces, Loan

Official sponsor

Volkswagen South Africa

External links

* [http://www.morokaswallows.co.za Moroka Swallows Official Website]
* [http://www.psl.co.za Premier Soccer League]
* [http://www.psl.co.za/teams/moroka_swallows/club_information/ PSL Club Info]
* [http://www.safagoal.net South African Football Association]
* [http://cafonline.com Confederation of African Football]