 | |||
| Full name | Club de Regatas Vasco da Gama | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Founded | 1980 | ||
| Ground | Parow Park,Parow,Cape Town | ||
| Capacity | 3,000[1] | ||
Vasco da Gama is a South Africanfootball club based in theParow suburb of the city ofCape Town. Coming from the lower ranks, the club had its roots entrenched in the localPortuguese South African community, and adopted its name, crest and team colours from the Brazilian clubClub de Regatas Vasco da Gama. As of 2024–25 season, they play in theSAFA Second Division.
In 2016, the club sold itsNational First Division (NFD) franchise toStellenbosch.[2]
Vasco da Gama was established in 1980, carrying the name of famed Portuguese explorerVasco da Gama. Being mainly a lower league club, Vasco won promotion to theNational First Division in 2003, after being crowned champions of theVodacom Second Division. In their first season of first division football they finished 5th, giving themselves the opportunity to build on their previous league performances.
After a successful2005/2006 season, Vasco featured in the promotion playoffs, beatingBush Bucks in the semi-final. They lost 1–0 in the playoff finals to aBenoni Premier United team, which included Bafana Bafana playersBernard Parker andTsepo Masilela. In 2008 they won the Vodacom League and regained promotion into the National First Division once again.
Vasco secured promotion to thePremiership when they beatBlack Leopards 2–1 (aggregate score 3–2) in a promotional play-off atParow Park on 7 March 2010.
After only one season in the Premiership Vasco was relegated finishing 15th on the log and losing the promotion/relegation playoffs.[citation needed]
On 9 January 2014, Vasco da Gama played a friendly match against GermanBundesligaVfB Stuttgart at Coetzenberg Stadium inStellenbosch[3] and lost 5–0 after a brace fromMohammed Abdellaoue, plus goals fromCacau,Martin Harnik andVedad Ibišević.[4]
In August 2016, owner Mario Ferreira used the license of Vasco da Gama to create a new club in Stellenbosch, known asStellenbosch F.C.[2]
In June 2024, Vasco da Gama earned promotion from theSAFA Regional Leagues to the Western Cape Stream of the2024–25 SAFA Second Division.
Carlos das Neves (2008–2011)
Tony de Nobrega (14 June 2011 – 5 June 2013)Keenin Lesch (1 Jul 2013–2016)
Sammy Troughton (2016)[7]
