High-flying Birds circling Amakhosi
FROM relegation candidates last season to dark horses for the Absa Premiership title this term.
That’s Gordon Igesund’s Moroka Swallows, the Soweto club currently in fourth place in the Absa Premiership table and on a high this season, level on points with Supersport United and Kaizer Chiefs, who are in second and third place respectively.
At this point last season the Dube Birds were nowhere near the top of the table. They were languishing in unusual territory at the bottom under then coach Rainer Zobel from Germany, their worst start to the season since the inception of the PSL in 1996.
After 16 matches last season, Swallows were on 11 points, with just two victories and five draws.
They did make it to the MTN8 final with Zobel, where they lost to Orlando Pirates on penalties, but their league form was terrible and supporters and shareholders of the club were concer ned that they would see their beloved “sleeping giant” playing lower league football had things carried on the way it did.
Igesund came in after Zobel’s dismissal half way through the season and he signed Vuyo Mere, Koketso Mmotong, Tshepo Ramokala and James Mayinga on loan from Mamelodi Sundowns and Macbeth Sibaya from Russian club Rubin Kazan. That made a big difference and they finished 13th.
Igesund extended his stay at Swallows and though he lost all the players who were on loan last season, as well as key defender Ramahlwe Mphahlele at the start of the campaign to Sundowns, he was able to bring in new players.
He signed David Mathebula, Joseph Makhanya, Mpho Maleka and Luvhengo Mungomeni, all experienced players. This season, after 16 matches, Swallows are on 29 points, a good 18 points more than last season at this stage.
Though Swallows keep saying they would be happy with just a top eight finish this season, the club cannot be ruled out of the title race, especially with Igesund.
Swallows play Chiefs today at FNB Stadium (6pm) and though Amakhosi often dominate this clash, Igesund’s men are going to give Vladimir Vermezovic’s charges a run for their money, especially after their impressive display against Santos at the Dobsonville Stadium on Wednesday.