Lesufi fears PSL sides may raid Birds
Ke Yona Cup puts Swallows on spot
Swallows FC official Panyaza Lesufi has mixed feelings after his team qualified for Nedbank Cup’s last 32 round. They have been drawn against Maritzburg United in the opening round of the R7million cup competition.
The club was rebranded from the old Moroka Swallows to simply Swallows FC after buying the status of Orange Vaal Professional in the ABC Motsepe League last year.
Lesufi feels the spotlight that comes with playing in the competition will give the elite league teams an opportunity to raid his team for players.
“I am excited we have drawn a PSL team; it will test our strength. We have a good team but I am also nervous.
“We have worked very hard to unearth the talent we have. My worry is that if we expose these players at that level the big teams will poach them.”
Lesufi, who is Gauteng MEC for education, has been at the forefront of reviving the legacy of Swallows after the club’s decline. The club’s experienced back-to-back relegations from the premier league in 2015, later first division and eventually out of the third-tier division.
Buying the status of Orange Vaal allowed Swallows to return to third-tier, operating as ABC Motsepe League.
The club’s leadership has been in touch with PSL’s Platinum Stars, who are up for sale, but they are treading carefully this time after the failed purchase of Free State Stars.
“We are talking to a PSL team and two teams in the NFD. If the price is right and we raise the necessary amount then definitely next season we will be in either of those leagues,” Lesufi, who describes himself as Swallows shareholder, said.