Moroka Swallows F.C. Explained

Clubname:Moroka Swallows FC
Fullname:Moroka Swallows Football Club
Nickname:The Dube Birds, Amaswaiswai, The Beautiful Birds
Ground:Volkswagen Dobsonville Stadium, Soweto,
Johannesburg
Capacity:24,000
Chairman:David Mogashoa
Mgrtitle:Manager
Manager:Vacant[1]
League:Motsepe Foundation Championship
Season:2023–24
Position:DStv Premiership, 14th
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Website:https://morokaswallowsfc.com/

Moroka Swallows Football Club (often referred to as Swallows or The Birds) is a South African professional football club based in Soweto, Johannesburg, in the Gauteng province.

Founded in 1947, Swallows are one of the original two Soweto clubs, together with Orlando Pirates, thus contest what is known as the Original Soweto Derby.[2]

Until relegation in the 2014–15 season, the club had played every season of the Premier Soccer League.[3]

They won the 2019–20 National First Division and competed in the 2020–21 South African Premier Division, they finished 6th in what was their first season back in top-flight football league system and qualified for 2021 MTN 8 competition. They play their home matches at Dobsonville Stadium.

History

The club was founded in the 1940s by a trio of football lovers, Ishmael Lesolang, Strike Makgatha, and Johnny Kubheka.[4]

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.[5]

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.[6]

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.[7]

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 African National Congress 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.[8]

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.[9] The decade between 1982 and 1992 was a successful one for the team, culminating in four pieces of silverware.[10]

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.[11]

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.[12]

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, subsequently being liquidated.

Prior to the start of the 2018–19 season, Swallows purchased the franchise of National First Division team Maccabi for R8 million, and competed in the 2019–20 National First Division under the name Swallows F.C.

At the end 2019–20 National First Division season, the club gained promotion to the Premier Soccer League following a 3–0 win against third-placed Tshakhuma Tsha Madzivhandila F.C., then competed in the 2020–21 South African Premier Division.

After being officially named Swallows F.C. in the aftermath of their bankruptcy and a FIFA ban, they renamed themselves to Moroka Swallows F.C. prior to the start of the 2023–24 season.[13]

The club experienced financial difficulties during the 2023–24 season, with the club failing to honour their final two fixtures of 2023. This was blamed in part due to the PSL blocking Swallow's sponsorship by Telkom, claiming that it was in competition with MTN, sponsors of their MTN 8 competition.[14]

Swallows sold their Premiership franchise to Marumo Gallants prior to the start of the 2024-25 season.[15]

Honours

Club records

Source:[16]

League positions

SAFA Second Division (Gauteng)

First team squad

Updated 26 January, 2024

Notable players

Notable former coaches

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Mokhesi . Tokelo . 2024-02-19 . Swallows and Komphela reach mutual agreement to part ways . 2024-02-19 . FARPost . en-ZA.
  2. Web site: Bucs, Birds clash to revive original Soweto derby spark . 2023-09-04 . SowetanLIVE . en-ZA . 4 September 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230904110021/https://www.sowetanlive.co.za/sport/soccer/2023-03-03-bucs-birds-clash-to-revive-original-soweto-derby-spark/ . live .
  3. http://www.psl.co.za/team.asp?team=swallows PSL Club Info
  4. Web site: Moroka Swallows Football Club – Succession. 23 March 2010. Moroka Swallows Football Club. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20120229004813/http://www.morokaswallows.co.za/article.asp?id=337606. 29 February 2012. 12 April 2018.
  5. Web site: The history of Moroka Swallows Football Club. Moroka Swallows Football Club. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20120229004825/http://www.morokaswallows.co.za/content.asp?id=16831. 29 February 2012. 12 April 2018.
  6. Web site: PART 2: THE FIRST DECADE (1947-1957). Moroka Swallows Online. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20160304114855/http://www.morokaswallows.co.za/content/part-2-the-first-decade. 4 March 2016. 12 April 2018.
  7. Web site: THE SECOND DECADE (1957-1967). Moroka Swallows Online. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20160304110330/http://www.morokaswallows.co.za/content/part-3-the-second-decade. 4 March 2016. 12 April 2018.
  8. Web site: MOROKA SWALLOWS BIG XV 1968-1978. Moroka Swallows Online. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20150606095407/http://www.morokaswallows.co.za/content/moroka-swallows-big-xv-1968-1978. 6 June 2015. 12 April 2018.
  9. Web site: PART 5: THE FOURTH DECADE (1979-1988). Moroka Swallows Online. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20160304102501/http://www.morokaswallows.co.za/content/part-5-the-fourth-decade. 4 March 2016. 12 April 2018.
  10. Web site: PART 6: THE FIFTH DECADE (1989-1998). Moroka Swallows Online. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20160304125145/http://www.morokaswallows.co.za/content/part-6-the-fifth-decade. 4 March 2016. 12 April 2018.
  11. Web site: PART 7: THE SIXTH DECADE (1999-2008). Moroka Swallows Online. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20160304115709/http://www.morokaswallows.co.za/content/part-7-the-sixth-decade. 4 March 2016. 12 April 2018.
  12. Web site: Moroka Swallows' relegation a historic one in South Africa . ESPN FC . 2 June 2015 . 2 June 2015 . 5 July 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150705032517/http://www.espnfc.com/south-african-premiership/2197/blog/post/2476626/moroka-swallows-relegation-a-historic-one-in-south-africa . live .
  13. Web site: Moroka Swallows finally get their iconic name back . ESPN FC . 4 September 2023 . 14 February 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240214084913/https://lax1-ib.adnxs-simple.com/it?an_audit=0&referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.msn.com%2Fen-xl%2Fafrica%2Fother%2Fmoroka-swallows-finally-get-their-iconic-name-back%2Far-AA1dKACz&e=wqT_3QLmFGxmCgAAAwDWAAUBCIn9sa4GENnrmY2ruu_FFhj_EQEwASo2CQAAAAANork_EREJABkBCRDXowRAIQEJARsAKREJ0DEAAABAMzPTPzDS0_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-AMBgAQAkgQGL3V0L3YzmAQAogQPMjA3LjI0MS4yMzYuMTY5qAQAsgQQCAAQARisAiD6ASgAMAA4ArgEAMAE5ti8IsgEANoEAggB4AQB8AS6iYq2AYgFAZgFAKAFgtyT9pLm6PdywAUAyQVhMhgAAPA_0gUJZWIBAYjYBQHgBQHwBeK-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_0AbCjQTaBhYKEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAQABgA4AYB8gYCCACABwGIBwCgBwG6BwJAAcgHge8F0gcNCQAAAAAAAAAAEAAYANoHBggAEAAYAOAHAOoHAggA8AcAiggCEACVCAAAgD-YCAHACAHSCAkI____NxACGAE.&s=e05edcf9172eef5bcee40dfc9ac8cd68dbca79c1 . live .
  14. Web site: Ngidi . Njabulo . Njabulo Ngidi PSL created the situation that led to Moroka Swallows not honouring their fixtures . 2023-12-30 . Sport . en-US . 30 December 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231230082058/https://www.news24.com/sport/soccer/psl/njabulo-ngidi-psl-created-the-situation-that-led-to-moroka-swallows-not-honouring-their-fixtures-20231229 . live .
  15. Web site: Rabothe . Tshepo . 2024-07-09 . Marumo Gallants president hits back at 'status buying' criticism . 2024-08-18 . FARPost . en-ZA.
  16. Web site: Moroka Swallows. Kickoff.com. 2013-11-17. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20131103075540/http://www.kickoff.com/psl-clubs/moroka-swallows. 3 November 2013.
  17. Web site: Moroka Swallows Have Appointed Craig Rosslee As Head Coach. soccerladuma.co.za. 12 April 2018. 13 April 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180413125419/https://www.soccerladuma.co.za/news/articles/categories/thursday-content/moroka-swallows-have-appointed-craig-rosslee-as-head-coach/205071?page=4. live.

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