A BRIEF BACKGROUND TO
THE SWARAJ
CLUB
BY MR K SINGH : CHAIRMAN
:The Swaraj Club was formed by a bunch of
young dedicated men, in 1949 in Sophiatown, now the white Suburb of Triomf. Our
first affiliation was to the Witwatersrand Indian football Association where we
progressed along the ranks to the most senior division. In Wits I F A we won
many of the competitions and were always amongst the finishers. When the Indians
of Sophiatown were removed to Lenasia in 1959 we were forced to join the Western
Districts Indian football Association. In the W D I F A we finished tops, taking
all the honours and by wide margins. Because of the poor competition in the W D
I F A we decided to play “freelance” and withdrew from the W D I F A in 1962. We played “free-lance” until
1970 when we affiliated to the Transvaal Professional Soccer
League.
While playing “free-lance” we used the
Lenasia Indian High School Grounds as our“home” ground. In August 1966 we were
reported for playing non- racial soccer and were under the constant surveillance
of the police. This ban was defied and we continued to play non-racial soccer
for two more years. Eventually the High School Grounds was taken away. We then
developed the present Nirvana Grounds. But to retain it we had to belong to a
“recognized” unit. There being no unit to cater for our needs and at the same
time, retain our grounds, we the affiliated to the T PS L in 1970. In 1973 we
sought and were granted affiliation to the first division of the SA Soccer
federation Professional League.
THE Swaraj Club was the sponsors of the
annual Lenasia Soccer Tournament. This tournament was inaugurated 1965. It was
the first Tournament in the Transvaal, if not the Republic, to be staged on a
Saturday and Sunday. Swaraj were once joint-holders and seven times beaten
finalists in the Lenasia Soccer Tournament. This Tournament had many memorable
occasions. The Swaraj Club was growing from strength to strength and was always
invited to participate in tournaments. The club participated in many
tournaments. We annexed the 1962 Piet Retief tournament, defeating Witbank Black
Aces in the final which was played in
semi-darkness.
In 1963 Swaraj contested the West Rand Soccer
Tournament finals, loosing to Young Dynamos by the odd goal in 3. In that
tournament, our player Nyna Moodley was judged the “Best Player”, Virgil
Padiachee also received this award in a later tournament. The Swaraj versus
Grupo Desportivo de Cabral match in the last W R S T in 1964 was one of the best
games ever watched by soccer fans, where Swaraj won by the odd goal. Even today
people reminisce about that match. In 1967 the Swaraj club annexed the Atlantis
Dynamic Soccer Festival, in Benoni. Here too, one of the Swaraj players, Links
Padayachy, won the “Best Player” award.
Some of the most stringing performances of
the Swaraj Club were: A 3-2 victory over the celebrated Orlando Pirates at the
Lenasia Stadium in 1972 a 3-1 wins against Moroka Swallows Big XV at the Nirvana
Grounds in 1973 and defeats by Kaiser Chiefs and Orlando Pirates in the same
year. 1974 saw Swaraj in the Federation Professional League, boasting with names such as Buick Mkwati, Smily
Moosa, Dan Twala, pro Ariel and our “local boys”.With this affiliation and with
reality of seeing the mighty bulls (Swaraj/Bells/Dynamos) in action brought
about real professionalism in the teams. The Transvaal and Lenasia was in for a
real soccer feast.
The Admin Staff of the club been what they
always were dedicated and goal seeking never left any stone unturned. Here great
credit must go to Mr.Billa Singh. In 1974 Swaraj finished fifth, 1975 they ended
in joint fourth and in 1976 occupied 3rd spot only to be piped by goal average
for second spot. Then it happened -1977 – starting the season off badly suddenly
the Admin staff brought in Alex Forbes and players Like Jimmy Joubert, Cheese
Manna, Victor Kowa & others & with a game in hand we won the Federation
Professional league. What a culmination to a very wonderful season after only
its 4th year in Fed.
Well done Swaraj : The Admin Staff, players
supporters & well- wishes. A special thanks to our local players some of
them who played without receiving any remuneration to them the club expressed
appreciation and thanks. 1978 saw Swaraj in financial difficulties and
ultimately selling franchise and this saw the slide of professional football in
Lenasia-the other clubs also found it hard to make ends meet and
soon found that the sacrifices as too taxing. Professionalism came to an
Abrupt End in Lenasia. 1982 saw “Swaraj united” emerged seeking affiliation to
the Federation Professional League. After representation the name “Swaraj” re-
appeared in the Feds records.
young dedicated men, in 1949 in Sophiatown, now the white Suburb of Triomf. Our
first affiliation was to the Witwatersrand Indian football Association where we
progressed along the ranks to the most senior division. In Wits I F A we won
many of the competitions and were always amongst the finishers. When the Indians
of Sophiatown were removed to Lenasia in 1959 we were forced to join the Western
Districts Indian football Association. In the W D I F A we finished tops, taking
all the honours and by wide margins. Because of the poor competition in the W D
I F A we decided to play “freelance” and withdrew from the W D I F A in 1962. We played “free-lance” until
1970 when we affiliated to the Transvaal Professional Soccer
League.
While playing “free-lance” we used the
Lenasia Indian High School Grounds as our“home” ground. In August 1966 we were
reported for playing non- racial soccer and were under the constant surveillance
of the police. This ban was defied and we continued to play non-racial soccer
for two more years. Eventually the High School Grounds was taken away. We then
developed the present Nirvana Grounds. But to retain it we had to belong to a
“recognized” unit. There being no unit to cater for our needs and at the same
time, retain our grounds, we the affiliated to the T PS L in 1970. In 1973 we
sought and were granted affiliation to the first division of the SA Soccer
federation Professional League.
THE Swaraj Club was the sponsors of the
annual Lenasia Soccer Tournament. This tournament was inaugurated 1965. It was
the first Tournament in the Transvaal, if not the Republic, to be staged on a
Saturday and Sunday. Swaraj were once joint-holders and seven times beaten
finalists in the Lenasia Soccer Tournament. This Tournament had many memorable
occasions. The Swaraj Club was growing from strength to strength and was always
invited to participate in tournaments. The club participated in many
tournaments. We annexed the 1962 Piet Retief tournament, defeating Witbank Black
Aces in the final which was played in
semi-darkness.
In 1963 Swaraj contested the West Rand Soccer
Tournament finals, loosing to Young Dynamos by the odd goal in 3. In that
tournament, our player Nyna Moodley was judged the “Best Player”, Virgil
Padiachee also received this award in a later tournament. The Swaraj versus
Grupo Desportivo de Cabral match in the last W R S T in 1964 was one of the best
games ever watched by soccer fans, where Swaraj won by the odd goal. Even today
people reminisce about that match. In 1967 the Swaraj club annexed the Atlantis
Dynamic Soccer Festival, in Benoni. Here too, one of the Swaraj players, Links
Padayachy, won the “Best Player” award.
Some of the most stringing performances of
the Swaraj Club were: A 3-2 victory over the celebrated Orlando Pirates at the
Lenasia Stadium in 1972 a 3-1 wins against Moroka Swallows Big XV at the Nirvana
Grounds in 1973 and defeats by Kaiser Chiefs and Orlando Pirates in the same
year. 1974 saw Swaraj in the Federation Professional League, boasting with names such as Buick Mkwati, Smily
Moosa, Dan Twala, pro Ariel and our “local boys”.With this affiliation and with
reality of seeing the mighty bulls (Swaraj/Bells/Dynamos) in action brought
about real professionalism in the teams. The Transvaal and Lenasia was in for a
real soccer feast.
The Admin Staff of the club been what they
always were dedicated and goal seeking never left any stone unturned. Here great
credit must go to Mr.Billa Singh. In 1974 Swaraj finished fifth, 1975 they ended
in joint fourth and in 1976 occupied 3rd spot only to be piped by goal average
for second spot. Then it happened -1977 – starting the season off badly suddenly
the Admin staff brought in Alex Forbes and players Like Jimmy Joubert, Cheese
Manna, Victor Kowa & others & with a game in hand we won the Federation
Professional league. What a culmination to a very wonderful season after only
its 4th year in Fed.
Well done Swaraj : The Admin Staff, players
supporters & well- wishes. A special thanks to our local players some of
them who played without receiving any remuneration to them the club expressed
appreciation and thanks. 1978 saw Swaraj in financial difficulties and
ultimately selling franchise and this saw the slide of professional football in
Lenasia-the other clubs also found it hard to make ends meet and
soon found that the sacrifices as too taxing. Professionalism came to an
Abrupt End in Lenasia. 1982 saw “Swaraj united” emerged seeking affiliation to
the Federation Professional League. After representation the name “Swaraj” re-
appeared in the Feds records.