Swallows’ demise complete

Former Moroka Swallows midfielder Jabulani Mendu has singled out the players as the main reason for the fall from grace of the Beautiful Birds.

Swallows’ relegation from the ABC Motsepe League was confirmed on the weekend, a third straight relegation for a side that has a rich history in the local game.

“We put too much blame on management. What about the players, what was their contribution to Swallows’ problems,” said Mendu, who played for Swallows in happier times in the early 2000s.”

“My concerns are about the fans, it is unfair that they have to go through this.”

Mendu believes the current generation of players are uneducated about the teams they are contracted to and have placed themselves before the team. Reflecting on his two seasons with the club, Mendu also feels Swallows’ shortcomings are a result of the club failing to move with the times.

“Swallows were scared of change, they could have got people who could have helped them understand how things happen in the modern era. But they wanted to stick to the way they have always been doing things. Look at how the teams in the PSL do it. They have departments for everything, new training methods and equipment to help the team compete,” said Mendu.

“Gavin Hunt (Mendu’s coach at Swallows) taught us to focus as players, not to pay attention to what is happening in the office. We play for the fans, not for management, we played for the supporters first. Players these days don’t understand the history of the teams they play for, they don’t know who wore the shirt number before them and what those players’ contribution was to the team.”