Vasco da Gama (South Africa)

the now defunct South African football club

Vasco da Gama was a South African football club based in the Parow suburb of the city of Cape Town that played in the National First Division. Coming from the lower ranks, the club had its roots entrenched in the local Portuguese South African community, and adopted its name, crest and team colours from the Brazilian club Club de Regatas Vasco da Gama. In 2016, the club was ended when the franchise was relocated to Stellenbosch as Stellenbosch F. C.

Vasco da Gama was established in 1980, carrying the name of famed Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama. Being mainly a lower league club, Vasco won promotion to the National First Division in 2003, after being crowned champions of the Vodacom 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 successful 2005/2006 season, Vasco featured in the promotional playoffs, beating Bush Bucks 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 and Tsepo Masilela. 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 2–1 (aggregate score 3–2) in a promotional play off at Parow Park on 7 March 2010. After only one season in the PSL Vasco was relegated finishing 15th on the log and losing the promotion/relegation playoffs. On 9 January 2014, Vasco da Gama played a friendly match against German Bundesliga VfB Stuttgart at Coetzenberg Stadium in Stellenbosch and lost 5–0 after a brace from Mohammed Abdellaoue, plus goals from Cacau, Martin Harnik and Vedad Ibišević. In August 2016, owner Mario Ferreira used the license of Vasco da Gama to create a new club in Stellenbosch, known as Stellenbosch F. C.