Marumo Gallants‘ return to the Betway Premiership for the 2024/25 season was filled managerial changes, inconsistent form, and a valiant late-season surge.
After acquiring Moroka Swallows’ PSL status, Bahlabane Ba Ntwa set up their new base in Bloemfontein, with Dr Petrus Molemela Stadium as their home ground.
The season began with significant squad overhaul, as 15 players were released and new faces, like winger Daniel Msendami from Juaneng Galaxy, were brought in.
Dylan Kerr was initially appointed as head coach for his third stint with the club. However, his tenure was short-lived, as he resigned after just three weeks due to “indifferences with the proposed direction that the chairman wanted for the team.”
This led to the swift return of former coach Dan Malesela, who faced the immediate challenge of integrating a mix of new signings with the remaining players from both Swallows and Gallants.
Malesela’s second spell started shakily with three consecutive league losses, before a crucial 1-0 home victory against AmaZulu, thanks to a Msendami strike, secured the club’s first win of the season.
Under Malesela, the team showed flashes of potential, winning two of their next five league matches and reaching the Carling Knockout Cup semi-finals, where they were eventually knocked out by Mamelodi Sundowns.
Adding to the club’s evolving structure, former Bafana Bafana and Kaizer Chiefs coach Molefi Ntseki joined as the new Technical Director in late November.
Mid-December brought further instability as Malesela was placed on special leave for urgent family matters, leaving assistant Sundra Govender and Duncan Lechesa in interim charge.
This period proved disastrous, highlighted by a humiliating 8-1 thrashing by Orlando Pirates, where the Soweto giants scored seven unanswered goals in the second half, handing Gallants their heaviest top-flight defeat.
This demoralizing loss, followed by a 1-0 defeat to Sekhukhune United, saw the team plummet to the bottom of the table.
In response to this crisis, Gallants swiftly reinstated Malesela. His return brought immediate stability, as he remarkably guided the team from the foot of the table to seventh place within just three matches.
The January transfer window saw further reinforcements with the additions of strikers Junior Zindonda, Junior Dion, and Ibrahim Conde, as the club aimed for a strong second half of the season.
Despite advancing to the Nedbank Cup quarter-finals, league results remained inconsistent under Malesela. After three back-to-back losses, both Malesela and Technical Director Molefi Ntseki were relieved of their duties.
The club then turned to Moroccan coach Abdeslam Ouaddou. Ouaddou’s tenure began with a bang, orchestrating a significant 2-0 upset over league title contenders Orlando Pirates and steering the team to the Nedbank Cup semi-final with a dominant 4-1 victory over Durban City.
However, this promising start was followed by consecutive league losses and a narrow 1-0 defeat to Orlando Pirates in the Nedbank Cup semi-final.
In a final push, former Bafana Bafana striker Dino Ndlovu joined on a short-term deal. Under Ouaddou’s guidance, Marumo Gallants displayed incredible resilience in the dying stages of the season, going unbeaten in their last seven Betway Premiership matches.
Despite this impressive late run, club President Abram Sello will undoubtedly feel a tinge of disappointment. The team narrowly missed out on a coveted top-eight spot on the final day, drawing their last two league matches despite holding leads in both.
A win in either of those crucial fixtures would have secured MTN8 qualification for the 2025/26 season, a testament to how close Bahlabane Ba Ntwa came to capping their turbulent return with a significant achievement.
Gallants will hopefully look to sign strengthen the side with a few quality players in specific positions during the upcoming transfer window instead of wholesale changes in the current squad.
The club will also be wary of interest in star wingers Daniel Msendami and Sekela Sithole, only time will tell if they will be retained or sold ahead of the new season.