Thomas Sweswe
Encyclopedia
Thomas Langu Sweswe is an association footballer from Zimbabwe
. Sweswe is a defender
, primarily operating as a centre back, and has played for eight different clubs as well as the Zimbabwe national football team
. He is currently playing for the Kaizer Chiefs in South Africa
. Sweswe is right-footed.
in central Zimbabwe
, Sweswe began his career in 2001 with CAPS United, a club based in the country's capital. He made twenty-two appearances for the team, scoring once. In 2002 he moved on to another Harare
-based club, Sporting Lions FC. Despite only staying at the club for one year, Sweswe racked up thirty-one appearances for Lions. In 2003 the defender moved on again, this time to Real United, making twenty-seven appearances and scoring only his second goal in senior football while at the club. In 2004 he made Highlanders FC, based in Bulawayo
, his fourth club in as many years. Unfortunately for Sweswe, his arrival at the club coincided with a lack of success for Highlanders. They had previously qualified for every CAF Champions League
tournament since 2000, and won the Zimbabwe Charity Shield in 2005, but failed to win any silverware during Thomas' stay in Bulawayo
. He played twenty-six games for Highlanders FC.
n club Manning Rangers in 2004–2005, moving to a foreign club for the first time in his career and registering for Manning on 11 August 2004. He played eleven games for the club before moving back to Zimbabwe
to play for Dynamos FC. Sweswe stayed at Dynamos for just one season before moving on to another Zimbabwe
an club, Mwana Africa FC
. He played for Mwana in 2006 and 2007, as the club finished in tenth and and sixteenth. After Mwana were relegated in 2007, Sweswe returned to Dynamos FC, where he had played in 2005. Dynamos finished as Zimbabwe Premier Soccer League
runners-up in 2008, just two points off champions Monomotapa United
. They also competed in the 2008 CAF Champions League, reaching the semi-finals before being knocked out by Cotonsport Garoua
of Cameroon
. Thomas played in ten of their thirteen Champions League games, including both semi-final legs. However, this didn't prevent Sweswe from returning to club where he had started his career, Caps United. United finished in third place in 2009.
in the 2009–10 season, signing for arguably the biggest club in his career, Kaizer Chiefs. He made his debut for the club in the 3-1 MTN 8 2009 victory on 4 August 2009. Chiefs finished in third place in Sweswe's first season with them with Thomas playing in twenty-eight of their thirty Premier Soccer League
games. Chiefs slipped to fourth in 2010–11, but Sweswe only featured in nineteen of their games, missing the end of the season through injury. He wears the no.3 shirt for the club.
at the 2007 Merdeka Tournament
held in Malaysia. He scored a spectacular goal in the 4-2 loss to Singapore
in Zimbabwe's opening match on 21 August 2007 from just past the half-way line. The Warriors were eventually knocked out by Myanmar
in the semi-finals.
qualifiers, a 1-1 draw with Liberia
on 5 September and a 0-0 stalemate with Cape Verde Islands on 10 October. He also made appearances in two friendly matches, playing the final five minutes of the 3-0 loss to Brazil
on 2 June in his first game back after injury, before helping his country to a 3-1 win over Mozambique
in November.
's 1-0 defeat to Mali
on 26 March in an 2012 African Cup of Nations
qualifier. He made his second appearance of 2011 in the return fixture against Mali, on 5 June, which Zimbabwe won 2-1.
Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe is a landlocked country located in the southern part of the African continent, between the Zambezi and Limpopo rivers. It is bordered by South Africa to the south, Botswana to the southwest, Zambia and a tip of Namibia to the northwest and Mozambique to the east. Zimbabwe has three...
. Sweswe is a defender
Defender
Defender usually refers to a position in association football .Defender or The Defender may also refer to:-Film and television:* The Defender or The Bodyguard from Beijing, a film starring Jet Li...
, primarily operating as a centre back, and has played for eight different clubs as well as the Zimbabwe national football team
Zimbabwe national football team
The Zimbabwe national football team, nicknamed The Warriors, is the national team of Zimbabwe and is controlled by the Zimbabwe Football Association. They were known as the Southern Rhodesia national football team from 1939–1964, then the Rhodesia national football team until 1980, when Rhodesia...
. He is currently playing for the Kaizer Chiefs in South Africa
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...
. Sweswe is right-footed.
Early career
Born in GweruGweru
Gweru is a city near the centre of Zimbabwe at . It has a population of about 146,073 , making it the third largest city in the nation. Gweru is the capital of Midlands Province. Gweru was founded in 1894 by Dr. Leander Starr Jameson. The first bank opened in Gweru in 1896, and the stock exchange...
in central Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe is a landlocked country located in the southern part of the African continent, between the Zambezi and Limpopo rivers. It is bordered by South Africa to the south, Botswana to the southwest, Zambia and a tip of Namibia to the northwest and Mozambique to the east. Zimbabwe has three...
, Sweswe began his career in 2001 with CAPS United, a club based in the country's capital. He made twenty-two appearances for the team, scoring once. In 2002 he moved on to another Harare
Harare
Harare before 1982 known as Salisbury) is the largest city and capital of Zimbabwe. It has an estimated population of 1,600,000, with 2,800,000 in its metropolitan area . Administratively, Harare is an independent city equivalent to a province. It is Zimbabwe's largest city and its...
-based club, Sporting Lions FC. Despite only staying at the club for one year, Sweswe racked up thirty-one appearances for Lions. In 2003 the defender moved on again, this time to Real United, making twenty-seven appearances and scoring only his second goal in senior football while at the club. In 2004 he made Highlanders FC, based in Bulawayo
Bulawayo
Bulawayo is the second largest city in Zimbabwe after the capital Harare, with an estimated population in 2010 of 2,000,000. It is located in Matabeleland, 439 km southwest of Harare, and is now treated as a separate provincial area from Matabeleland...
, his fourth club in as many years. Unfortunately for Sweswe, his arrival at the club coincided with a lack of success for Highlanders. They had previously qualified for every CAF Champions League
CAF Champions League
The CAF Champions League is an annual international club football competition run by the Confederation of African Football . The top club sides from Africa's football leagues are invited to participate in this competition, which is the premier club football competition on the continent and the...
tournament since 2000, and won the Zimbabwe Charity Shield in 2005, but failed to win any silverware during Thomas' stay in Bulawayo
Bulawayo
Bulawayo is the second largest city in Zimbabwe after the capital Harare, with an estimated population in 2010 of 2,000,000. It is located in Matabeleland, 439 km southwest of Harare, and is now treated as a separate provincial area from Matabeleland...
. He played twenty-six games for Highlanders FC.
2005-2009
Sweswe joined South AfricaSouth 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 club Manning Rangers in 2004–2005, moving to a foreign club for the first time in his career and registering for Manning on 11 August 2004. He played eleven games for the club before moving back to Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe is a landlocked country located in the southern part of the African continent, between the Zambezi and Limpopo rivers. It is bordered by South Africa to the south, Botswana to the southwest, Zambia and a tip of Namibia to the northwest and Mozambique to the east. Zimbabwe has three...
to play for Dynamos FC. Sweswe stayed at Dynamos for just one season before moving on to another Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe is a landlocked country located in the southern part of the African continent, between the Zambezi and Limpopo rivers. It is bordered by South Africa to the south, Botswana to the southwest, Zambia and a tip of Namibia to the northwest and Mozambique to the east. Zimbabwe has three...
an club, Mwana Africa FC
Mwana Africa F.C.
Mwana Africa FC is a Zimbabwean football club based in Bindura. Their home stadium is Trojan Mine Stadium.-Achievements:* FA Cup with Cuthbert Mutandwa and Milton Nyamadzawo being the men behind the success: 1*: 2006...
. He played for Mwana in 2006 and 2007, as the club finished in tenth and and sixteenth. After Mwana were relegated in 2007, Sweswe returned to Dynamos FC, where he had played in 2005. Dynamos finished as Zimbabwe Premier Soccer League
Zimbabwe Premier Soccer League
Zimbabwe Premier Soccer League, also known as Castle Lager Premier Soccer League due to sponsorship reasons, is the top professional division of the Zimbabwe Football Association, it was created in 1980, as a successor to the 1962 formed Rhodesia National Football League.The League consists of 16...
runners-up in 2008, just two points off champions Monomotapa United
Monomotapa United F.C.
Monomotapa United is a football club based in Harare, Zimbabwe. The club plays in the Zimbabwe Premier Soccer League.-Squad:...
. They also competed in the 2008 CAF Champions League, reaching the semi-finals before being knocked out by Cotonsport Garoua
Cotonsport Garoua
Coton Sport FC de Garoua is an Cameroonian football club based in Garoua. They play at the Stade Omnisport de Garoua. In 2008 they finished runners up in the CAF Champions League.-Domestic:*Cameroonian Championship: ...
of Cameroon
Cameroon
Cameroon, officially the Republic of Cameroon , is a country in west Central Africa. It is bordered by Nigeria to the west; Chad to the northeast; the Central African Republic to the east; and Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, and the Republic of the Congo to the south. Cameroon's coastline lies on the...
. Thomas played in ten of their thirteen Champions League games, including both semi-final legs. However, this didn't prevent Sweswe from returning to club where he had started his career, Caps United. United finished in third place in 2009.
Kaizer Chiefs
Thomas returned to South AfricaSouth 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...
in the 2009–10 season, signing for arguably the biggest club in his career, Kaizer Chiefs. He made his debut for the club in the 3-1 MTN 8 2009 victory on 4 August 2009. Chiefs finished in third place in Sweswe's first season with them with Thomas playing in twenty-eight of their thirty Premier Soccer League
Premier Soccer League
Premier Soccer League is the trading name of the National Soccer League of South Africa. The top league is the ABSA Premiership, sponsored by ABSA...
games. Chiefs slipped to fourth in 2010–11, but Sweswe only featured in nineteen of their games, missing the end of the season through injury. He wears the no.3 shirt for the club.
International career
Sweswe played for ZimbabweZimbabwe national football team
The Zimbabwe national football team, nicknamed The Warriors, is the national team of Zimbabwe and is controlled by the Zimbabwe Football Association. They were known as the Southern Rhodesia national football team from 1939–1964, then the Rhodesia national football team until 1980, when Rhodesia...
at the 2007 Merdeka Tournament
2007 Merdeka Tournament
The 2007 Merdeka Tournament is the 39th editions of the Merdeka Tournament and was held on August 20 to August 29, 2007.-Group stage:-Group A:---------------------Group B:-------------------------Knockout stage:-Semi finals:...
held in Malaysia. He scored a spectacular goal in the 4-2 loss to Singapore
Singapore national football team
The Singapore national football team is the national association football team of Singapore. The team comes under the organization of the Football Association of Singapore...
in Zimbabwe's opening match on 21 August 2007 from just past the half-way line. The Warriors were eventually knocked out by Myanmar
Myanmar national football team
The Myanmar national football team is the national team of Myanmar and is controlled by the Myanmar Football Federation. It was known as the Burma national football team until 1989, when Burma was renamed Myanmar. It finished second in the 1968 Asian Cup. They have participated in the Summer...
in the semi-finals.
2010
Thomas played in two of Zimbabwe's 2012 African Cup of Nations2012 African Cup of Nations
The 2012 Africa Cup of Nations will be the 28th edition of the Africa Cup of Nations, the football championship of Africa organized by the Confederation of African Football . It will be co-hosted by Gabon and Equatorial Guinea. The two countries won the right to host the tournament after...
qualifiers, a 1-1 draw with Liberia
Liberia national football team
The Liberia national football team, nicknamed the Lone Stars, is the national team of Liberia and is controlled by the Liberia Football Association. Although the country produced the 1995 FIFA World Player of the Year, George Weah, they have never reached the World Cup finals...
on 5 September and a 0-0 stalemate with Cape Verde Islands on 10 October. He also made appearances in two friendly matches, playing the final five minutes of the 3-0 loss to Brazil
Brazil national football team
The Brazil national football team represents Brazil in international men's football and is controlled by the Brazilian Football Confederation , the governing body for football in Brazil. They are a member of the International Federation of Association Football since 1923 and also a member of the...
on 2 June in his first game back after injury, before helping his country to a 3-1 win over Mozambique
Mozambique national football team
The Mozambique national football team , popularly known as Os Mambas, represents Mozambique in association football and is controlled by the Federação Moçambicana de Futebol, the governing body for football in Mozambique...
in November.
2011
The defender played in ZimbabweZimbabwe national football team
The Zimbabwe national football team, nicknamed The Warriors, is the national team of Zimbabwe and is controlled by the Zimbabwe Football Association. They were known as the Southern Rhodesia national football team from 1939–1964, then the Rhodesia national football team until 1980, when Rhodesia...
's 1-0 defeat to Mali
Mali national football team
The Mali national football team, nicknamed Les Aigles , is the national team of Mali and is controlled by the Fédération Malienne de Football. They have never qualified for the World Cup finals.-History:...
on 26 March in an 2012 African Cup of Nations
2012 African Cup of Nations
The 2012 Africa Cup of Nations will be the 28th edition of the Africa Cup of Nations, the football championship of Africa organized by the Confederation of African Football . It will be co-hosted by Gabon and Equatorial Guinea. The two countries won the right to host the tournament after...
qualifier. He made his second appearance of 2011 in the return fixture against Mali, on 5 June, which Zimbabwe won 2-1.