Moneni Pirates FC is a Eswatinii

soccer Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a team sport played between two teams of 11 players who primarily use their feet to propel the ball around a rectangular field called a pitch. The objective of the game is ...

club based in Manzini. They play in the top division in Swazi football. The team plays in white and black colors.

History

The club was established by Ngungunyane Matsenjwa, with an aim of bringing together youths of Moneni township in the outskirts of Manzini. The late Matsenjwa left behind his widow Catherine Sibanyoni - Matsenjwa, His Children, Nomusa Matsenjwa, Vuyisile Matsenjwa ( Now late), Futhi Matsenjwa, Dudu Matsenjwa, Nkanyezi Matsenjwa - Nzima, Thulisile Matsenjwa, Gelane Matsenjwa, and Zweli Matsenjwa. He also left behind his grandchildren Sindile Magagula - Gumede, Majaha Mkhatjwa and Siphilele Nzima. Prior to the club being taken over by Matsenjwa, it was known as The Blue Birds Football Club. In 1967, the club's name changed to Moneni Pirates FC, inspired by Soweto giants, Orlando Pirates. A lot of clubs in Eswatini are named after popular clubs in South Africa. This is because Swazi football fans follow clubs in South Africa, and the local clubs look to export talent to the more professional Premier Soccer League. The club has been relegated from the highest league in then-Swaziland three times in its history – in the 1998–1999, the 2005–06 seasons and the 2014–15 season. It quickly regained promotion in the elite league on all three occasions of relegation, with the latest happening through a 2nd position finish in the National First Division in the 2016/16 season. It finished the first round of the 2016/17 season in a mid-table position of the Premier League, after it finished the round strongly following a slow start in the league. In the current season, 2019/20 season, the club has been a revelation, resulting in football pundits comparing it to its yesteryears. At the time of COVID-19 lockdown, the Club was placed in position 4 of the MTN League, with a fighting shot to finish 2nd. Time will tell on whether the League will result and finish.

Current squad

Stadium

Currently the team plays at the 8,000 capacity Mavuso Stadium in Manzini.

Performance in Caf competitions

1989 African Cup Winners' Cup The 1989 season of the African Cup Winners' Cup football club tournament was won by Al Merreikh in two-legged final victory against Bendel United F.C. This was the fifteenth season that the tournament took place for the winners of each African coun ...

: first round

Honors

* Swazi Bank Cup: 2015 * Swazi Telecom Charity Cup: 2009 * Trade Fair Cup: 2001 * Inyatsi Top-8: 1995 * BP Cup: 1992 * Interboard (Trade Fair) Cup: 1992 * BP Cup: 1989

Managers

* Gcina Dlamini (2019/20) * Zenzele Dlamini (2016/17) * Mlamuli Zwane (2015/16 & 2016/17) * Happy Simfukwe (2014/15) * Golding Dube (2014/15) * Van Rooyen Magagula (2013/14) * Zenzele Dlamini (2005/06, 2012/13 – last 5 games; 2013/14 – first round & 2014–15 – Assistant Coach from January 2015) * Harries Bulunga (2012/13) *

Dumisa Mahlalela Dumisa 'Dodge' Mahlalela was a Swazi professional football manager. Career Mahlalela had first been Swaziland's coach for three matches in 1992 and 1993. Since 2001 he coached the Swaziland national football team The Eswatini national foot ...

(2003, 2006/07 & 2011/12) * Mlamuli Zwane (2008/09 – 2010/11) * Sipho Sibandze (2002/03 – 2003/04) * Christopher Khoza (1999/2000 & 2001/2002) * David "Botsotso" Manyatsi (2000/01) *

Jan Simulambo Jani Liabwa Simulambo (born 9 November 1953) is a former Zambian footballer and coach. Nicknamed ''Be Good,'' Simulambo had an outstanding career and played at the heart of Zambia’s midfield for close to ten years, representing the country at ...

(1998/99) * Mandla Dlamini (1997/98) * Nino Mahel (1996/97)

Chairmen

* Osborne Nzima (2018 – Present) * December Mavimbela (2014 – 2017) * Thulani Hlanze (2010 - 2014) * Sipho Matse (2008 - 2010) * Zakhele Dlamini (2006 - 2008) * Bhekisisa Zwane (2000 - 2006) * George Motsa (1997 - 2000) * John Maziya (1991 - 1997) * Desmond Oswin (1986 - 1991) * Mathokoza Mtsetfwa (1985 - 1986) * Ngununyane Matsenjwa (1967 - 1985)

References

External links

SoccerwayWeltfussball
(archive.org) Football clubs in Eswatini {{Eswatini-footyclub-stub