Manning Rangers is a now defunct
South Africa
South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the southernmost country in Africa. It is bounded to the south by of coastline that stretch along the South Atlantic and Indian Oceans; to the north by the neighbouring countri ...
n
football
Football is a family of team sports that involve, to varying degrees, kicking a ball to score a goal. Unqualified, the word ''football'' normally means the form of football that is the most popular where the word is used. Sports commonly c ...
club based in
Durban
Durban ( ) ( zu, eThekwini, from meaning 'the port' also called zu, eZibubulungwini for the mountain range that terminates in the area), nicknamed ''Durbs'',Ishani ChettyCity nicknames in SA and across the worldArticle on ''news24.com'' from ...
. The side is best remembered as the Champions of the Inaugural season of South Africa's
Premier Soccer League
Premier is a title for the head of government in central governments, state governments and local governments of some countries. A second in command to a premier is designated as a deputy premier.
A premier will normally be a head of governm ...
.
History
The club was founded in 1928 by
GR Naidoo who, as well as administering the club, played as its goalkeeper and was later a referee. In the mid-1960s, the club entered the professional ranks under the auspices of the
South African Soccer League
The South African Soccer League (SASL) was an association football league based in South Africa. It was formed in 1961 and folded in 1967. It was established by the South African Soccer Federation which represented the black African, Coloured and ...
. In 1985, the club moved its base from Curries Fountain to Chatsworth. The club entered the 1st Division of the NSL (National Soccer League) in 1991.
In 2006, the club declared
bankruptcy
Bankruptcy is a legal process through which people or other entities who cannot repay debts to creditors may seek relief from some or all of their debts. In most jurisdictions, bankruptcy is imposed by a court order, often initiated by the debtor ...
. The
Fidentia Group
Fidenza ( Parmigiano: ; locally ) is a town and ''comune ''in the province of Parma, Emilia-Romagna region, Italy. It has around 27,000 inhabitants. The town was renamed Fidenza in 1927, recalling its Roman name of ''Fidentia''; before, it was cal ...
purchased the club in 2007 and renamed it the
Fidentia Rangers
Ikapa Sporting is a football (soccer) club based in Cape Town, South Africa.
History
The club was formed in 2007 after purchasing the status of Fidentia Rangers. The home venue of the club was Erica Park until May 2010, followed by a season whe ...
. The new owners moved the club from
Durban
Durban ( ) ( zu, eThekwini, from meaning 'the port' also called zu, eZibubulungwini for the mountain range that terminates in the area), nicknamed ''Durbs'',Ishani ChettyCity nicknames in SA and across the worldArticle on ''news24.com'' from ...
to
Cape Town
Cape Town ( af, Kaapstad; , xh, iKapa) is one of South Africa's three capital cities, serving as the seat of the Parliament of South Africa. It is the legislative capital of the country, the oldest city in the country, and the second largest ...
.
The club was near the rent office in Chatsworth
1996/1997 season
In 1996/97 the inaugural season of the Premier Soccer League, the unfancied ''Maulers'' then under the leadership of chairman Kaycee Reddy, stunned everybody with a
fairy tale
A fairy tale (alternative names include fairytale, fairy story, magic tale, or wonder tale) is a short story that belongs to the folklore genre. Such stories typically feature magic (paranormal), magic, incantation, enchantments, and mythical ...
season and managed an impressive 23–5–6 record finishing top of the table with 74 points and becoming champions ahead bigger clubs such as the
Kaizer Chiefs
Kaizer Chiefs Football Club (often known as Chiefs) are a South African professional football club based in Naturena, Johannesburg South, that plays in the Premier Soccer League. The team is nicknamed ''AmaKhosi'', which means "Lords" or "Chie ...
,
Mamelodi Sundowns and
Orlando Pirates. Kaycee Reddy as owner and chairman of the club, built the team from scratch to league winners in a single
season, a feat which will never be repeated.
The club remained in the Premier Soccer League for several seasons. In 1998/99 the team represented South Africa in the
CAF Champions League
The CAF Champions League, known for sponsorship purposes as the TotalEnergies CAF Champions League and formerly the African Cup of Champions Clubs, is an annual football club competition organized by the Confederation of African Football and co ...
losing out to eventual winners
ASEC Abidjan
The Association Sportive des Employés de Commerce Mimosas, literally Mimosas Commerce Employees' Sporting Association, is an Ivorian football club based in Abidjan. The club is also known as ''ASEC Mimosas Abidjan'' and ''ASEC Abidjan'', especi ...
of
Cote d'Ivoire
Ivory Coast, also known as Côte d'Ivoire, officially the Republic of Côte d'Ivoire, is a country on the southern coast of West Africa. Its capital is Yamoussoukro, in the centre of the country, while its largest city and economic centre is ...
.
Legacy
The club has since resurfaced in Chatsworth under the name Rangers FC on a semi-professional basis. The team is currently one league below the National 1st Division.
Notable players
*
Mark Davies Most appearances for the club.
*
Simon Makhubela Most goals for the club.
*
Keryn Jordan
Keryn David Jordan (1 November 1975 – 21 October 2013) was a South African footballer who primarily played as a striker during a fifteen-year career.
Club career
Early career
He started his career in his native South Africa at Pretoria ...
Most goals in a season for the club with 22.
*
Innocent Chikoya
Innocence is a lack of guilt, with respect to any kind of crime, or wrongdoing. In a legal context, innocence is to the lack of legal guilt of an individual, with respect to a crime. In other contexts, it is a lack of experience.
In relation ...
Most games in a single season with 43
*
Gilbert Mushangazhike Zimbabwean international striker.
*
Bruce Grobbelaar Zimbabwean international goalkeeper, coach 2004–05.
*
George Koumantarakis
Georgios "George" Koumantarakis (born 27 March 1974) is a South African former soccer player of Greek descent. He was born in Athens
Athens ( ; el, Αθήνα, Athína ; grc, Ἀθῆναι, Athênai (pl.) ) is both the capital and lar ...
South African internationalist and 1995 Title winner.
*
Neil Tovey African Cup of Nations winning Bafana Bafana captain.
*
Paulito Mozambican international.
*
Anthony Tokpah
Anthony Tokpah (born July 26, 1977) is a retired Liberian football goalkeeper. He was also a member of the Liberia national football team.
Career
Anthony Tokpah, after playing with Ratanang Maholosiane and Manning Rangers in South Africa, Liberian international goalkeeper.
*
Selvanathan Reddy Manning Rangers F.C Striker.
Major honours
*PSL Champions 1996/97
*Osman Spice Works Cup 1985
*FPL Knockout Winners 1979, 89
*Coca-Cola Shield 1977
{{original Premier Soccer League clubs
*
Association football clubs established in 1928
Former Premier Soccer League clubs
Soccer clubs in Durban
Defunct soccer clubs in South Africa
1928 establishments in South Africa
2006 disestablishments in South Africa