Manning Rangers
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Manning Rangers were a South African football (soccer) club based in Durban. The club went bankrupt in 2006 and no longer exists.
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[edit] History
The club was founded in 1928 by the late GR Naidoo and nicknamed The Mighty Maulers.The club clinched the title in the inaugral season of the Premier Soccer League in South Africa but since then were unable to repeat their exploits. Over the years, the club has had a number of nicknames including, Manning Rangers, Chatsworth Rangers, and Ratanang.
Some early highlights for the club included:
- 1977 Knock-Out Cup champions by defeating Bluebells
- 1980 Runner-up in the knock-out cup final after losing to Cape Town Spurs.
- 1985 Knock-Out Cup Champions defeating Bluebells. Player of the Year Awarded to Derrick Naidoo of Manning Rangers.
- 1986 Runner-Up in the League
- 1987 Received Post Natals "Team of the Year" Award Runner-up in the Knock-Out Cup after losing to Jakes Autolot.
- 1989 Runner-Up in the Kock-Out Cup losing to Lightbody Santos
- 1991 Entered the 1st Division of the NSL
- 1993 Reached the BobSave Super Bowl Finals
- 1995 Reached the Semi-Finals of the Coca-Cola Cup
- 1995 Champions, South African Premier League.
In 1996/97 the inaugral season of the South African Premier Soccer League, the Maulers stunned everybody with a fairytale season and managed an impressive 23-5-6 record finishing with 74 points and finishing top of the table, winning the competition ahead of more fancied opponents such as the Kaiser Chiefs , Mamelodi Sundowns or the Orlando Pirates.
The next season 1997/98 was not quite so good however and the team dropped to 5th place with a 16-9-9 record. The team did make it to the final of the Bobsave Superbowl competition where they lost to the Orlando Pirates. In 1998/99 the team finished 17-9-8. In 1998/99 the team represented South Africa in the African Champions Cup and reached the League Stage, losing out to eventual winners Asec Mimosa, Ivory Coast.
A lowlight for the club came in 2005 when the club was relegated from the South African Premier Soccer League into the Mvela Golden League.
Bruce Grobbelaar , the controversial former Liverpool goalkeeper, was briefly coach of the team in 2004 but was fired after less than a year in charge.
Then in 2006 the club went into bankruptcy. In 2007, the company Fidentia Group bought Manning Ranger F.C for about R2,5m last year, and renamed it Fidentia Rangers and relocated the team to Cape Town.
[edit] Notable Players
- Mark Davies Veteran defender with over 300 games for the club
- Gilbert Mushangazhike Striker capped 22 times for Zimbabwe
- Kerryn Jordan Most goals in a season for the club with 22
- Innocent Chikoya Most games in a single season with 43
- Bruce Grobbelaar Legendary and controversial Liverpool goalkeeper
- George Koumantarakis South African internationalist and 1995 Title winner
[edit] Colours and crest
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| Manning Rangers Home Colors | |||||||||
Manning Rangers traditional home colors have been black.
[edit] Stadia
Manning Rangers played at the Stellenbosch University Stadium in Cape Town, South Africa and at the Chatsworth Stadium.
[edit] Supporters
The club was well supported but support has dropped off since the club dropped from the Premier Soccer League.
[edit] Major Honours
- PSL Champions 1996/97
- Osman Spice Works Cup 1985
- FPL Knockout Winners 1979, 89
- Coca-Cola Shield 1977
