Vasco da Gama (South Africa)
Encyclopedia
Vasco da Gama is a 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...

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 Parow, 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...

 that 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:...

. Coming from the lower ranks, the club has its roots entrenched in the local Portuguese South African community. The club is named after Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...

ian club CR Vasco da Gama.

History

Vasco da Gama was established in 1980. Being mainly a lower league club, Vasco won promotion to 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:...

 in 2003, after being crowned champions of the Vodacom Second Division
Vodacom League
Vodacom League, sometimes also referred to as Vodacom Promotional League, was founded in 1998 as the current Second Division and the overall third tier of South African football . The competition is regulated by SAFA, and sponsored by mobile telecommunications company Vodacom...

. In their first season of first division football they finished 5th, giving themselves the opportunity to build on their previous league performances.

After a successful 2005/2006 season, Vasco featured in the promotional playoffs, beating Bush Bucks
Bush Bucks
Bush Bucks is a former South African football . The club was founded in 1957 and based in Umtata in the Eastern Cape. It is nicknamed Imbabala ....

 in the semi-final. They lost 1–0 in the playoff finals to a Benoni Premier United team, which included Bafana Bafana players 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...

 and Tsepo Masilela
Tsepo Masilela
Peter Tsepo Masilela is a South African international football defender who plays for Spainish side Getafe on loan from Maccabi Haifa. Masilela known for his pace and great defensive ability.-Club career:...

. In 2008 they won the Vodacom League and regained promotion into the National First Division once again.

Vasco secured promotion to the PSL when they beat Black Leopards
Black Leopards
Black Leopards are a South African football club based in Makhado, Limpopo that plays in the Premier Soccer League.-History:The club was founded in 1983 by business people in Venda. In 1998 the club was taken over by the Thidiela family...

 2–1 (aggregate score 3–2) in a promotional play-off at Parow Park on March 7, 2010.

After only one season in the PSL Vasco was relegated finishing 15th on the log and losing the promotion/relegation playoffs.

Honours

  • First Division Championship winners: 2009/10
  • First Division Coastal Stream champions: 2009/10
  • Second Division National Play-off winners: 2002/03, 2007/08
  • Second Division Western Cape Stream champions: 2000/01, 2002/03, 2007/08
  • SA Amateur Club Championship winners: 1988, 1990

Notable former players

  • Andre Arendse
    Andre Arendse
    Andre Leander Arendse is a retired South African football goalkeeper.He played mostly for Oxford United, Fulham FC , Cape Town Spurs, Santos, Mamelodi Sundowns and SuperSport United. He is also a co-presenter with SuperSport, South Africa's sporting channel.He played for South Africa national...

     – 67 Bafana Bafana caps
  • Shaun Bartlett
    Shaun Bartlett
    Shaun Bartlett is a retired South African football striker who last played for Bloemfontein Celtic.-Early life:...

     – 74 Bafana Bafana caps
  • Carlos das Neves
    Carlos das Neves
    Carlos das Neves is a South African former football player and coach who last managed Vasco da Gama.-References:...

     – former Vasco first team coach
  • Thabo Mngomeni
    Thabo Mngomeni
    Thabo Mngomeni is a retired South African football midfielder.He played mostly for Cape Town Spurs, Manning Rangers, Bush Bucks, Orlando Pirates and Hellenic....

     – 38 Bafana Bafana caps
  • David Nyathi
    David Nyathi
    - Career :Nyathi played for a few teams, including FC St. Gallen , Ankaragücü , CD Tenerife and Cagliari .- International :...

     – 45 Bafana Bafana caps

2011–12 First team squad

As of September 20, 2011

External links

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