Just when we thought things couldn't get any worse for Moroka Swallows, the once mighty 'Dube Birds' are on the very brink of being relegated to the amateur ABC Motsepe League, with only a miracle capable of saving the club now. This means the historic club will now be entering football obscurity, considering the fact that very little to nothing is known about this league by ordinary South African football supporters.
While they were expected to make an immediate return to the PSL, or at least finish in the top eight bracket, after one season in the National First Division, Swallows' second relegation in as many seasons will indeed be a dark day for South African football as this isn't just an ordinary football club, despite the fact that their current status suggests otherwise.
For the benefit of the 'born-frees', Moroka Swallows was ranked among the best teams in South Africa. In fact, they were arch-rivals of Orlando Pirates way before the birth of Kaizer Chiefs, who effectively dethroned 'The Beautiful Birds' as Pirates' official 'opposition' decades ago. In a nutshell, there is no South African football without Moroka Swallows and to see what has happened to this giant over the last couple of seasons is heart-breaking to say the least. This is a club that has produced some of the most talented players and coaches the country has ever seen.
Affectionately known as "Don't follow me, follow the birds", in the past Swallows enjoyed a massive support base throughout the country. However, due to the club's slow and painful demise, the number of supporters has dwindled tremendously over the last decade or so. The club has since become better known for the infighting between minority and majority shareholders over the rights to run the club. While this painful picture continued to play itself out in the media, the players and coaches continued to strive on the field.
The warning signs have always been there, but it was at the end of the 2013/14 season that Swallows' management missed out on a golden opportunity to turn around the club's fortunes. Finishing 13th on the log clearly wasn't enough of an indication for them to start pressing the proverbial panic buttons and make changes. They sat on the same problems, hoping they would miraculously vanish into thin air. The management's failure to act saw the club finishing 15th the following season, where they ultimately failed to maintain their PSL status in the promotional play-offs. That was the beginning of the end of this giant football club with such rich history.
To make matters worse, the same management continued with business as usual without putting any measures in place to avert further disaster before the beginning of this season, meaning their first season in the National First Division proved to be just as difficult as their time in the PSL. Players went for months without salaries while the infighting continued unabated. Late club legends like Andries Maseko and Daniel 'Vader' Moposho must be turning in their graves, looking down in shame as the club they served with pride became a laughing stock and an embarrassment to local football. This is a club that meant so much to these and many other legends, who would have given anything to ensure its success.
While the current crop of players will go into the history books for condemning this once massive club into football oblivion, it is worth noting that they could only do so much. To be fair, these are the same players who went for months without salaries. It seems the boardroom squabbles just caught up with the club eventually. With the rumour of new ownership sounding like a breath of fresh air, one hopes to see the Dube Birds back among the big boys in the near future. Whether they buy a new status or work their way back to the PSL doesn't really matter. We just want to see Swallows back where they belong!
Goodman Mazibuko and Greg Etafia tried their level best, with the help of former coach Gordon Igesund, to salvage the team's position in the NFD and hopefully get them back to the elite league in future. However, their attempts proved too little too late, as the damage had already been done. To their credit, they managed to conjure up the best run for the team in the last quarter of the season. The club looked destined for relegation but the three legends' run saw them coming as close as just three points away from safety with three games to play. The 1-1 draw against Thanda Royal Zulu this past weekend was the last straw and conceding that late equaliser must have been a heart-stopping moment for everyone associated with the Dube Birds. Their last game of the season away to Witbank Spurs just will be a formality, as their chances of survival are mathematically highly improbable.
Speaking to the club's prominent supporter, Thomas 'Rasta' Mokhari, was really tear-jerking as he narrated how hurt he and the team's other supporters are. He mentioned the fact that, as supporters, they don't have a choice but stick with their club through thick and thin, unlike the players and officials who can change clubs whenever they feel like it. These supporters feel so helpless as they couldn't really do much to help their team, however, one hopes that other teams will learn from what happened to Swallows. This is the same team that lost the 2011/12 league title race to Orlando Pirates on the last day of the season, finishing second with 56 points, two points shy of Pirates. Football will humble you and no one has learned this lesson more harshly than Swallows' management, as we are left to cry for our beloved Birds.
Cheers
VeeJay
