Moroka Swallows F.C.

**Home colours**

**Away colours**

**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.

Founded in 1947, Swallows are considered as one of the original two Soweto clubs, together with Orlando Pirates. The team currently plays in the SAB league after a stream of relegation from 3 soccer division.

## 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 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 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.

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.

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. Two years later Swallows won the Nedbank Cup, the club's first piece of silverware for five years.

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.

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

## Honours

* **South African Soccer League**
	+ *Winners*: 1965
* **Mainstay Cup**
	+ *Winners*: 1983
* **Bob Save Super Bowl**
	+ *Winners*: 1989, 1991

* **BP Top Eight Cup**
	+ *Winners*: 1975, 1979
* **Sales House Cup**
	+ *Winners*: 1978
* **ABSA Cup**
	+ *Winners*: 2004
* **Nedbank Cup**
	+ *Winners*: 2009
* **MTN 8**
	+ *Winners*: 2012

## Club records

* Most starts: File:Flag of South Africa.svg Andries Mpondo 395
* Most goals: File:Flag of South Africa.svg Thomas Hlongwane 73
* Most capped player: File:Flag of South Africa.svg Lerato Chabangu 13
* Most starts in a season: File:Flag of South Africa.svg Andries Mpondo 49 (1986)
* Most goals in a season: File:Flag of South Africa.svg 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)

Source:

### Premier Soccer League record

* 2013/2014 – 13th
* 2012/2013 – 9th
* 2011/2012 – 2nd
* 2010/2011 – 13th
* 2009/2010 – 8th
* 2008/2009 – 11th
* 2007/2008 – 7th
* 2006/2007 – 3rd
* 2005/2006 – 4th
* 2004/2005 – 5th

* 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

* MD & CEO: File:Flag of South Africa.svg **Leon Prins**
* General manager: File:Flag of South Africa.svg **Sipho Xulu**
* Team manager: File:Flag of South Africa.svg **Bennet Mtshali**
* Coach: \* File:Flag of South Africa.svg **Craig Rosslee**
* Assistant coach: File:Flag of South Africa.svg **Fani Madida**
* Goalkeeper coach: File:Flag of Brazil.svg **Edgard da Silva**

Source:

## 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.

### 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.

* File:Flag of Bosnia and Herzegovina.svg Boris Savić
* File:Flag of Nigeria.svg Felix Obada
* File:Flag of Serbia.svg Obren Cucković
* File:Flag of Slovenia.svg Vladimir Mandic

* File:Flag of Nigeria.svg Greg Etafia (permanent residency)

## Notable former coaches

* File:Flag of England.svg Eddie Lewis (1989–91)
* File:Flag of South Africa.svg Sandile Bali (1991–92)
* File:Flag of South Africa.svg Milo Bjelica (1992)
* File:Flag of South Africa.svg Mich d'Avray (1992–93)
* File:Flag of Brazil.svg Walter da Silva (1999)
* File:Flag of Russia.svg Viktor Bondarenko (2000–02)

* File:Flag of Zimbabwe.svg Ian Gorowa (July 1, 2007 – June 30, 2008)
* File:Flag of Brazil.svg Júlio César Leal (July 1, 2008 – June 30, 2009)
* File:Flag of Germany.svg Rainer Zobel (July 17, 2009 – Nov 28, 2010)
* File:Flag of South Africa.svg Gordon Igesund (Nov 29, 2010 – June 30, 2012)
* File:Flag of Portugal.svg Zeca Marques (July 1, 2012–2014)
* File:Flag of South Africa.svg Craig Rosslee (March 2015–)

## 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 on 2 June 2015.
11. ↑ Moroka Swallows. Kickoff.com. Retrieved on 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

## External links

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