Not birds of a feather
Swallows deny Soweto links despite likeness
It has been hailed as the rebirth of a fallen giant, but Swallows FC want nothing to do with Moroka Swallows.
Manager Matome Kganakga has dismissed any connection to the now-defunct Soweto side.
After their relegation from the Absa Premiership in the 2014-2015 campaign, Swallows suffered the same fate for two seasons in a row and were set to campaign in the SAB League. However, new investors acquired the ABC Motsepe League status from Orange Vaal Professionals to remain in the league and simply changed the name to Swallows FC.
During Sowetan’s visit to the club’s training base in the Vaal yesterday, there were many similarities between the two, most noticeably the maroon and white colours and the logo. The logo also claims the team was established in 1947, just like the old Swallows. Even the training kit bore the Moroka Swallows name.
“We are a new team and not associated with Moroka Swallows. This is a people’s team... and Panyaza Lesufi [Gauteng education MEC] is the chairman,” explained Kganakga. Swallows have qualified for the Nedbank Cup first round, where they face Maritzburg United on Saturday.
Former Kaizer Chiefs defender Levy Mokgothu is the only player with top-flight experience in the side coached by Isaac Mphasane.
It’s believed the sequestration of the previous Leon Prins-owned Swallows was the main reason why the new investors want to start on a clean slate, with the previous administration having left a trail of unpaid debts.
The new Swallows will return to Dobsonville this Saturday against Maritzburg.
“Our grounds here in Vaal don’t meet the PSL standards,” reasoned Kganakga.