Moroka Swallows F.C.

Moroka Swallows
Full name Moroka Swallows Football Club
Nickname(s) The Birds, The Beautiful Birds,
The Dube Birds
Founded 10 October 1947
Ground Volkswagen Dobsonville Stadium, Soweto,
Johannesburg
Ground Capacity 24,000
Owner Unknown Consortium
Chairman TBA
Coach South Africa Craig Rosslee
League National First Division
2015–16 NFD, 16th (relegated)

Moroka Swallows are a South African soccer club based in Johannesburg. Until relegation in the 2014–15 season, the club played in the Premier Soccer League.[1]

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

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 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 name 'moroka' means 'rain maker' in Setswana and the township was probably named after Chief Moroka of Barolong boo-Seleka who became the president of the ANC in 1940s. It is hardly surprising therefore that the club was renamed the 'rain bird'.

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 football 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 for five years.[9]

The club narrowly avoided relegation in the 2013–14 season, finishing thirteenth. The 2014–15 season saw them relegated for the first time in their history, finishing 15th, and failing to retain their position after being defeated in the promotion-relegation playoffs.[10]

Following their first relegation from the top level, the club finished bottom of the log in the 2015–16_National_First_Division, and were relegated again to the SAFA Second Division.

Honours

Club records

Source:[11]

Premier Soccer League record

Club officials/Technical team

Source:[12]

First team squad

As of 12 March, 2015.

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Position Player
1 Serbia GK Obren Čučković
2 South Africa DF Rudi Isaacs
3 Bosnia and Herzegovina DF Boris Savić
4 South Africa DF Tsietsi Mahoa
5 South Africa MF Eurico Marques
6 South Africa DF Ashraf Hendricks
7 South Africa MF Lantshene Phalane
8 South Africa MF Lucky Baloyi
10 South Africa FW Siyabonga Nomvethe
11 South Africa MF Dikgang Mabalane
12 South Africa MF Lefa Tsutsulupa (Captain)
13 Kenya MF Kevin Omondi
14 South Africa MF Lerato Chabangu
15 South Africa DF Giulio Giuricich
16 South Africa MF Luyolo Nomandela
No. Position Player
17 South Africa MF Mthokozisi Yende
18 South Africa FW Vuyisile Wana
19 South Africa DF Luvhengo Mungomeni
20 South Africa MF Philani Cele
21 South Africa MF Sandile Sibande
22 Brazil MF Thiago Rodrigo
23 South Africa FW Tshwarelo Bereng
24 Nigeria MF Felix Obada
28 Lithuania DF Larry Cohen
29 South Africa GK Sage Shane Stephens
31 South Africa DF Shere Lekgothoane
34 Nigeria GK Greg Etafia
45 South Africa MF Anver Esterhuizen
47 Slovenia MF Vladimir Mandic

Foreigners

In the South African PSL, only five non-South African nationals can be registered. Foreign players who have acquired permanent residency can be registered as locals.

Notable former coaches

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. ↑ The history of Moroka Swallows Football Club
  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)
  10. ↑ "Moroka Swallows' relegation a historic one in South Africa". ESPN FC. 2 June 2015. Retrieved 2 June 2015.
  11. ↑ "Moroka Swallows". Kickoff.com. Retrieved 2013-11-17.
  12. ↑ Kickoff PSL Yearbook 2013/2014, p. 32.
  13. ↑ http://www.soccerladuma.co.za/news/articles/categories/thursday-content/moroka-swallows-have-appointed-craig-rosslee-as-head-coach/205071?page=4
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