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)
Owner FB Soccer Investment Ltd., Cape Town
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.

Contents

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

Honours

Club records

Premier Soccer League record

Club officials/Technical team

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
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.

Shirt sponsor & kit manufacturer

References

External links