Moroka Swallows F.C.

Moroka Swallows

Full name	Moroka Swallows Football Club
Nickname(s)	The Birds, The Beautiful Birds, The Dube Birds
Founded	October 10, 1947
Ground	Volkswagen Dobsonville Stadium, Soweto, Johannesburg (Capacity: 24,000)
Chairman	Leon Prins
Coach	Gordon Igesund
League	ABSA Premiership
2010–11	ABSA Premiership, 13th
Home colours Away colours

Moroka Swallows are a South African football (soccer) club based in Johannesburg. The club plays in the Premier Soccer League. ^[1]

Founded in 1947, Swallows are considered as one of the original Soweto clubs together with Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs.

History

The club was founded in the 1940s by a trio of soccer lovers, Ishmael Lesolang, Strike Makgatha and Johnny Kubheka. ^[2]

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.^[3]

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.^[4]

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.^[5]

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.^[6]

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. ^[7] The decade between 1982 and 1992 was a successful one for the team, culminating in four pieces of silverware.^[8]

In 2007 the club celebrated its 60th anniversary. Two years later Swallows won the Nedbank Cup, the club's first piece of silverware after five years. ^[9]

Notable former coaches

• Walter da Silva
• Júlio César Leal
• Eddie Lewis
• Rainer Zobel
• Viktor Bondarenko
• Mich d'Avray
• Gavin Hunt

Honours

• South African Soccer League
  • Winners: 1965
• Mainstay Cup
  • Winners: 1983
• Bob Save Super Bowl
  • Winners: 1989, 1981
• BP Top Eight Cup
  • Winners: 1975, 1979
• Sales House Cup
  • Winners: 1978
• ABSA Cup
  • Winners: 2004
• Nedbank Cup
  • Winners: 2009

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

• 2010/2011 – 13th
• 2009/2010 – 8th
• 2008/2009 – 11th
• 2007/2008 – 7th
• 2006/2007 – 3rd
• 2005/2006 – 4th
• 2004/2005 – 5th
• 2003/2004 – 7th
• 2002/2003 – 4th
• 2001/2002 – 6th
• 2000/2001 – 15th
• 1999/2000 – 12th
• 1998/1999 – 15th
• 1997/1998 – 11th
• 1996/1997 – 11th

Club officials/Technical team

• Chairman: Leon Prins
• General manager: Sipho Xulu
• Coach: Gordon Igesund
• Assistant coach: Zeca Marques
• Goalkeeper coach: Edgard da Silva

2011–12 First team squad

As of September 14, 2011 Note: Flags indicate national team as has been defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Position Player 2 DF Rudi Isaacs 4 DF Sibambalipha Khumalo 5 MF Giorgi Nergadze 6 DF Ashraf Hendricks 7 MF Lwazi Skosana 8 MF Joseph Makhanya 9 MF David Mathebula 10 FW Siyabonga Nomvethe (Vice-captain) 12 MF Lefa Tsutsulupa (Captain) 13 DF Gilbert Mapemba 14 FW Lerato Chabangu 15 MF Oscar Machapa 16 DF Roger Da Costa

No. Position Player 17 MF Bongane Twala 18 MF Bennett Chenene 19 DF Luvhengo Mungomeni 20 FW Mpho Maleka 24 FW Auguston Leonard 29 GK Sage Lottering 31 DF Shere Lekgothoane 32 DF James Mayinga 33 GK Aubrey Mathibe 34 GK Greg Etafia 38 FW Cheick Cissé 40 MF MacBeth Sibaya

Foreigners

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

• Giorgi Nergadze
• Cheick Cissé
• Greg Etafia
• Oscar Machapa
• Gilbert Mapemba

Official sponsor

Volkswagen

References

1. ^ PSL Club Info
2. ^ Moroka Swallows Football Club – Succession
3. ^ The history of Moroka Swallows Football Club: Don’t follow me, follow the Birds!
4. ^ PART 2: The first decade (1947–1957)
5. ^ The Second Decade (1957–1967)
6. ^ Moroka Swallows Big XV 1968–1978
7. ^ PART 5: THE FOURTH DECADE (1979–1988)
8. ^ PART 6: THE FIFTH DECADE (1989–1998)
9. ^ PART 7: THE SIXTH DECADE (1999–2008)

External links

• Official website
• Premier Soccer League
• PSL Club Info
• South African Football Association
• Confederation of African Football