From giants to obscurity: the fall of Moroka Swallows
By Mahlomola Martin Lefupana
The
story of Moroka Swallows’s fall from the grace is all too familiar to some of
us. Swallows is a giant of South Africa football, they have a history, heritage
and trophy cabinet to be proud of. Their fall from the grace is not a surprise
and should not surprise other fans who might be following football partially.
It
is recorded that Swallows is the first football club to turn professional in
South Africa, by registering as a private entity. This was indeed commendable
at the time and true to the ground-breaking innovation, other teams followed
the same model of professionalising their clubs. Some of the illustrious and
decorated names to have played in the famous colours of maroon and white of the
Dube Birds as Swallows is known include luminaries such as Joel “Ace” Mnini, Andries
“Chaka chaka” Mpondo, Thomas “Who is Fooling Who” Hlongwane, Owen “Rubber Doll”
da Gama, William “Khurra” Makhura, Andries “Six Mabone” Maseko, Frederick
‘Congo’ Malebane, Trott ‘Trapper’ Moloto, Ephraim ‘Shakes’ Mashaba, Jimmy
‘Music Man’ Mahlangu, Daniel ‘Vader’ Mophosho, Maimane Phiri, Edward “Magents”
Motale, Graige Itafia, Lefe Tsutsulupa, Siyabonga “Bhele” Nomvete and many
others.
Swallows
as a club has been under different management and directorship over the years,
it was under David “Pine” Chabedi in the 80 & 90s when the club had its
success winning Bobsave twice, the Mainstay cup and finishing second in the
league in 1993. The takeover from German tycoon Dieter Bock in the late 90s led
to one crisis to another, always surviving by the skin of their teeth. I would argue,
that the problem of Swallows has been leadership and management, for a team
that pride itself with being a private entity, it’s sad that its fall is a
result of poor management and lack of corporate governance.
"When
you are working with people you must be professional, the club lacked
professionalism at some aspects. Maybe it needed to die so that it can be
started afresh by efficient and committed people”. Lefa Tsutsulupa former
captain who played 235 games for Swallows
In
the new millennium, Swallows was surprisingly able to compete in both the
leagues and cups, winning the ABSA Cup in 2004, MTN in 2008 and Nedbank in 2009,
while they finished 3rd in 2006/7 and 2nd in 2011/12.
This while selling top players each season, for instance while relying on
rejects from other clubs and academy graduate from within.
Swallows
biggest problem under the leadership of CEO Leon Prince, was lack on
consultation, poor transfer policy, undermining minority shareholders, lack of
long-term vision, living in the past and poor player management. Before long
Swallows was struggling, with allegations that players were not paid on time,
minority shareholder sabotage and losing major sponsorship.
By
the year 2012, Gordon Igusand was allowed to leave for Bafana Bafana and
everything fell apart. They finished 9th in 2012/13, 13th
in 2013/2014 and inevitably relegated the following season finishing 15 in
2014/15.
When
Swallows was relegated to the NFD league, many thought this Giants of Soweto
would quickly make a return to top flight, but they were wrong as the demise
continued getting relegated in the very same season of 2015/15 to ABC Motsepe
league. Players started leaving with club official confirming that players went
months without pay and CEO Leon Prince nowhere to be found. Before the start of
2016/2017, one Panyaza Lusufi arouse the expectation of the Dube Birds fans
telling them that he represent a consortium who are buying a PSL status for
Swallows. This “buying of PSL status” dragged the entire 2016/17 off-season and
was widely reported to be true, but this never happened to the disappointment
of the thousands of fans.
On
24 September 2016, Swallows lost 4 – 1 to Valencia at home in the ABC Motsepe
league, this was confirmation that indeed they play in the 2nd
division and also that their season will be characterised by poor results. Fast
forward to the 1st April 2017, Swallows lost 2 goals to 1 in the
hand of tittle chasing Orange Vaal Professionals. This confirmed Swallows
relegation to the armature level. This was Swallows 3rd relegation
in a raw, a history in South Africa football.
Poor
management, misguided greed, lack of accountability and lack of leadership
ruined everything that the past generations of Swallows players, management and
fans worked for. Swallows’s top flight football of more than 50 years is gone
and it will take some doing to return the Mighty Birds to their glorious
status. Next season, the once revered Moroka Swallows are going to back to play
in the dusty streets of Soweto where it all begun, but this time with disdain,
embarrassment and uncertain future.
Photo: Internet
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