Thanda Royal Zulu
Encyclopedia
Thanda Royal Zulu is a South Africa
n football (soccer)
club based in Richards Bay, KwaZulu-Natal
that currently plays in the National First Division
.
consortium that included Sven-Goran Eriksson
. The new owners moved the franchise from Benoni
to KwaZulu-Natal
. Prior to that the club was known as Hellenic FC
and was based in Cape Town
.
They currently play their home games at Richards Bay Stadium
in Richards Bay having previously played their home games at the Hammarsdale Stadium in Hammarsdale.
In 2010 the club moved its headquarters from Durban
to Richards Bay.
The club's nickname Amabhubesi is Zulu
for Lions while Thanda means love.
Árni Gautur Arason
Felix Obada
Bennett Mnguni
Bernard Parker
Clifford Mulenga
Peter Ndlovu
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
n football (soccer)
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
club based in Richards Bay, KwaZulu-Natal
KwaZulu-Natal
KwaZulu-Natal is a province of South Africa. Prior to 1994, the territory now known as KwaZulu-Natal was made up of the province of Natal and the homeland of KwaZulu....
that currently plays in the National First Division
National First Division
The National First Division is the second-highest league of South African club football after the Premier Soccer League . Both the NFD and PSL are organised by the National Soccer League.-For seasons in 2007-11:...
.
History
The club was known as Benoni Premier United until the end of the 2006/2007 season when it was bought by a SwedishSweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
consortium that included Sven-Goran Eriksson
Sven-Göran Eriksson
Sven-Göran Eriksson , in Sweden commonly referred to just by his nickname Svennis, is a Swedish ex-football manager. From October 2010 to October 2011 he managed Football League Championship side Leicester City....
. The new owners moved the franchise from Benoni
Benoni, Gauteng
Benoni is a city with 654,509 inhabitants on the East Rand in the South African province of Gauteng. Since 2000, it has been part of the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality.- History :...
to KwaZulu-Natal
KwaZulu-Natal
KwaZulu-Natal is a province of South Africa. Prior to 1994, the territory now known as KwaZulu-Natal was made up of the province of Natal and the homeland of KwaZulu....
. Prior to that the club was known as Hellenic FC
Hellenic FC
Hellenic FC was a South African association football club based in Cape Town. They were nicknamed The Greek Gods.Established in 1958 by Greek South Africans, Hellenic campaigned in the lower amateur leagues of Cape Town...
and was based in Cape Town
Cape Town
Cape Town is the second-most populous city in South Africa, and the provincial capital and primate city of the Western Cape. As the seat of the National Parliament, it is also the legislative capital of the country. It forms part of the City of Cape Town metropolitan municipality...
.
They currently play their home games at Richards Bay Stadium
Richards Bay Stadium
Richards Bay Stadium is a multi-use stadium in Richards Bay, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. It is used mostly for football matches, and is currently home venue for National First Division club Thanda Royal Zulu, and for the Vodacom League clubs Bright Stars and Real Classic.-External link:*...
in Richards Bay having previously played their home games at the Hammarsdale Stadium in Hammarsdale.
In 2010 the club moved its headquarters from Durban
Durban
Durban is the largest city in the South African province of KwaZulu-Natal and the third largest city in South Africa. It forms part of the eThekwini metropolitan municipality. Durban is famous for being the busiest port in South Africa. It is also seen as one of the major centres of tourism...
to Richards Bay.
The club's nickname Amabhubesi is Zulu
Zulu language
Zulu is the language of the Zulu people with about 10 million speakers, the vast majority of whom live in South Africa. Zulu is the most widely spoken home language in South Africa as well as being understood by over 50% of the population...
for Lions while Thanda means love.
Notable former players
Aime KitengeAime Kitenge
Aime Debo Kitenge is a retired Burundian goalkeeper last with Thanda Royal Zulu in the Premier Soccer League of South Africa.-References:...
Árni Gautur Arason
Árni Gautur Arason
Árni Gautur Arason is an Icelandic football goalkeeper, who currently playing for Lierse SK in Belgium. Arason is also an educated lawyer from the University of Iceland.-Club career:...
Felix Obada
Felix Obada
Felix Obada is a Nigerian football midfielder who currently plays for Maritzburg United in the South African Premier Soccer League.-Career:...
Bennett Mnguni
Bennett Mnguni
Thabo Bennett Mnguni is a South African football midfielder for Okktha United FC.-Career:...
Bernard Parker
Bernard Parker
Bernard Parker is a South African professional association football midfielder/striker playing for Kaizer Chiefs.-Early life:Bernard Melvin Parker was born and grew up in Reiger Park, a township next to Boksburg...
Clifford Mulenga
Clifford Mulenga
Clifford Mulenga is a Zambian footballer who plays as a midfielder for Bloemfontein Celtic F.C. in the South African Premier Soccer League.-Career:...
Peter Ndlovu
Peter Ndlovu
Peter Ndlovu is a Zimbabwean footballer, who plays as a striker.-Coventry City:Ndlovu was originally spotted by John Sillett, prior to his official signing from Highlanders by Terry Butcher in July 1991...
Club officials/Technical team
- Chairman/MD:
Pierre Delvaux - General manager:
Peter Koutroulis - Coach: Neil ToveyNeil ToveyNeil Tovey is a former South African footballer and now a coach. He was born in Pretoria.-Playing career:"Mokoko", as he is nicknamed, is a former captain of the South Africa national football team, and in 1996 became the first white player to raise the African Cup of Nations trophy...
- Assistant coach: Julius Dube