Swallows back among the elite
THE Birds will be flying in the elite division next season. That was confirmed yesterday after they gained automatic promotion from the GladAfrica Championship to the Absa Premiership on the last day of the season.
It has been a season of wonders for Swallows as they finished at the summit of the second division with 57 points, the same number as Ajax Cape Town and are now able to rejoin the elite.
Just a season ago they were plying their trade in the third tier of South African football, so their rise back to the top has been phenomenal.
No, they didn’t automatically secure their status back to the Championship this season as they had to buy the status of Maccabi FC. But it was perhaps there that they rewrote a lifelong lesson: that money can actually buy you happiness, after all!
The cash injection was devised by businessman David Mogashoa and astute politician Panyaza Lesufi. And not only did their investment pay off as Swallows walked away with a cool R3 million cheque, gold medals and trophy after their 3-0 win over Tshakhuma Tsha Madzivhandila in Tembisa but they brought much needed delight to many across the country.
The Dube Birds are not only one of the oldest and best-supported teams in Mzansi but they are part of the Soweto big three with Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates.
The Birds were not tipped for the Championship crown as they had an underwhelming start under coach Zeca Marques.
But such has been their tremendous growth and maturity under coach Brandon Truter that they made it look easy as they passed Ajax, who were top of the league for most of the season.
Captain Lebohang Mokoena, Virgil Vries and Vuyo Mere used their experience to help guide the team back to the promised land.
Meanwhile, the Urban Warriors will hope that they can still return to the Premiership next season via the gruelling promotion play-offs as their 3-0 win over Mbombela United secured second place.
Ajax will play the three-game round-robin fixtures against TTM, who finished third, and the topflight side that finishes 15th on the log.