Mwape Musonda of Swallows FC celebrates goal during DStv Premiership 2022/23 match between Swallows FC and Sekhukhune United FC at Dobsonville Stadium on the 23 August 2022 © Sydney Mahlangu/BackpagePix
Durban — Swallows Football Club has been renamed Moroka Swallows, awakening the sleeping giants after an eight-year disappearance.
The Dube Birds, relegated from the top flight in the 2014/15 had seemingly dipped into non-existence, but now under the leadership of Panyaza Lesufi and chairman David Mogashoa, they appear revived.
The iconic name of Moroka Swallows has not been in use in the PSL for nearly eight years; however, the duo's initial intent to return them to the top flight was hampered by financial implications that had engulfed the club’s name.
Moroka Swallows was relegated in consecutive years (from the top flight and NFD), subsequently resulting in liquidation before the birth of the renamed Swallows FC, via the purchase of Maccabi's National First Division (NFD) status.
Swallows Football Club will officially be referred to as Moroka Swallows FC from today. 🐦![CDATA[]]>🐦![CDATA[]]>🐦 pic.twitter.com/E1iETjGlQb
— Moroka SwallowsFC (@Moroka_Swallows) July 11, 2023
Panyaza and Lesufi could not name immediately as the ‘old’ club had a FIFA ban imposed on them for failing to reimburse former players Obren Cuckovic and Vladimir Mandic.
Serbian goalkeeper Cuckovic, and Mandic from Slovenia took the club to the world governing body for breach of contract which came back to clip the Dube Birds' wings in the transfer windows at the time and further hamper their reinvention under Panyaza and Mogashoa.
‘Amaswaiswai’ are one of the oldest clubs in the South African top flight having been established in 1947 (76 years).
Prior to their relegation, the club had never missed out on a top flight campaign.
The Dube Birds have a host of trophies in their cabinet, including a league title in 1965, four Nedbank Cup titles and an MTN title from 2012.
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