Santos F.C. (South Africa)

Santos
Full name Engen Santos Football Club
Nickname(s) The People's Team
Founded 1982
Ground Athlone Stadium, Athlone, Cape Town
Ground Capacity 34,000[1]
Chairman Goolam Allie
Coach South Africa Farouk Abrahams
League National First Division
2015–16 National First Division, 11th
Website Club website
old logo (−2003)
old logo (2003–2011)

Santos Football Club or simply Santos, also known under their sponsored title as Engen Santos, is a South African football club based in the Lansdowne suburb of the city of Cape Town that plays in the National First Division.

History

The club was established in Heideveld on the Cape Flats in 1982 and was originally known as Lightbodys Santos FC. During apartheid it was renowned for the insistence on non-racial inclusivity – hence the nickname The People's Team.

They played in the Federation Professional League (FPL), the only truly non-racial football body in the country from 1982 to 1990. They won the championship in 1983/4/6/7/8/90 before joining the National Soccer League.

The NSL became the PSL in 1996, with Santos earning promotion to the new league for the 1997–98 season. Santos tasted their first success in the new format of the league in 2001–02 when they surprisingly won the title under the mentorship of Gordon Igesund. This side featured players like Edries Burton, Andre Arendse, Musa Otieno and the club's all-time top goalscorer Jean-Marc Ithier. With the title win Santos became the first – and to date the only – team that was not a founder-member of the PSL to win the league.

They were also crowned Bob Save Super Bowl winners in 2001 and BP Top 8 winners in 2002.

Santos were relegated from the PSL at the end of the 2011–12 season for the first time in the club's history. After finishing 15th in the league they entered the 2011–12 PSL Playoff Tournament where they were pitted against Chippa United and Thanda Royal Zulu. Heading into their final playoff game Santos needed a win over Chippa United to maintain their PSL status but they were defeated 4–3 and subsequently relegated, with Chippa United taking their place in the PSL.[2]

Santos were relegated from the NFD at the end of the 2016–17 season. The club will now be playing in the Western Cape ABC Motsepe League.

Notable former coaches

Honours

Club records

Premier Soccer League record

Club officials/Technical team

First team squad

As of April 6, 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 The Gambia GK Pa Dembo Touray
2 South Africa MF Broderick Burds
3 South Africa DF Martin Moonsamy
4 South Africa DF Fagan Muller
5 South Africa DF Handsome Sibanda
6 South Africa MF Tshepo Mabua
7 South Africa FW Gregory Roelf
8 South Africa MF Tyren Arendse (Captain)
10 South Africa MF Suhayl Allie
11 South Africa FW Shaun Sopio
12 South Africa DF Mhlengi Sigwebela
13 Nigeria MF Solomon Okpako
14 South Africa MF Ryan Brooks
15 South Africa FW Fagrie Lakay
16 Kenya DF Brian Onyango
No. Position Player
17 South Africa FW Edwin Sitayitayi
18 South Africa DF Pierre Kok
21 South Africa DF Sachin Dawood
22 South Africa MF Zaakier Williams
24 South Africa MF Sizwe Nyambi
25 South Africa DF Cheslyn Jampies
27 South Africa DF Dean Kowalski
28 South Africa MF Xolani Mabaso
30 South Africa GK Keenon Blignaut
32 South Africa FW Carl Lark
34 South Africa MF Faizel Johnson
38 South Africa DF Sthembele Ngcamu
39 South Africa FW Iqraam Rayners
41 South Africa GK Chad Pottier

Shirt sponsor & kit manufacturer

References

  1. ↑ http://www.ajaxct.co.za/the-club/the-stadium/
  2. ↑ "Chippa promoted, Santos relegated". MTNFootball.com. 30 June 2012. Retrieved 19 July 2012.
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