Moroka Swallows F.C.

History

Three football fans—Ishmael Lesolang, Strike Makgatha, and Johnny Kubheka—started the club in the 1940s. They first called it Congregated Rovers, after the company where most of the players and staff worked, then switched to Moroka Rovers. On 10 October 1947, they settled on Moroka Swallows, setting up in the township once known as Masakeng. In Setswana, "moroka" means "rain maker," and the township likely took its name from Chief Moroka of Barolong boo-Seleka, who led the African National Congress in the 1940s. That connection led to the club being nicknamed the "rain bird." The 1950s and 1960s brought strong performances, peaking with the South African League title in 1965—the club's finest moment. Off the pitch, Swallows made history in 1971 by becoming the first football team to register as a public company, and that same year they landed the first official sponsorship, with Teljoy coming on board. Between 1982 and 1992, the team collected four trophies. The club marked its 60th anniversary in 2007, then won the Nedbank Cup two years later, its first silverware in five years. In 2013–14, Swallows scraped to 13th place, avoiding relegation, but the following season they finished 15th and lost in the promotion-relegation playoffs, dropping out of the top flight for the first time. After that, they ended up last in the National First Division, fell again to the SAFA Second Division, and were liquidated. Before the 2018–19 season, Swallows bought the franchise of National First Division side Maccabi for R8 million and played as Swallows F.C. in the 2019–20 season. They earned promotion back to the Premiership by beating third-placed Tshakhuma Tsha Madzivhandila F.C. 3–0, then competed in the 2020–21 top division. Following bankruptcy and a FIFA ban, the club was officially Swallows F.C. until it reclaimed the name Moroka Swallows F.C. ahead of the 2023–24 campaign.