The Revival of Cala Vanguard Football Club: Victory Is Certain

In the footballing heart of Cala, few names carry as much weight, memory, and meaning as Cala Vanguard Football Club. Founded in 1990 by Bambo Qongqo, Vanguard emerged at a time when football in Xhalanga and the broader Transkei was already rich with history, rivalry, and deep community pride.

During the 1970s through to the late 1980s, Xhalanga Blues were the undisputed kings of Cala football. Their dominance extended beyond the town itself, earning them recognition across the Transkei. For years, they set the standard — on the pitch and in the imagination of local supporters.

Cala Vanguard entered this landscape not as spectators, but as challengers.

Almost immediately, Vanguard positioned themselves as a serious rival to Xhalanga Blues. What followed was the birth of one of Cala’s most intense and memorable local derbies. Match days were not just sporting events — they were communal moments. The town would quite literally come to a standstill. Shops closed early. Church services were postponed. Streets emptied as supporters flocked to the ground. The Cala derby became a fixture of deep social importance, charged with pride, identity, and fierce but passionate rivalry.

Fueled by ambition and belief, Cala Vanguard rose steadily through the football ranks. Their ascent culminated in the 1996/97 season, when the club earned promotion to the National First Division (NFD) — the second tier of South African football at the time. This placed Vanguard in the same competitive space as historic clubs such as African Wanderers, who then boasted future Bafana Bafana stars Siyabonga Nomvethe and Sibusiso Zuma. For a small rural town like Cala, this was a remarkable achievement — proof that local talent and vision could compete on a national stage.

However, progress came with serious challenges.

Despite qualifying for the NFD, the league did not approve Cala Stadium for hosting home fixtures. As a result, Vanguard were forced to play their home games in Elliot (Khowa), significantly increasing travel costs and logistical strain. Combined with frequent away trips and a lack of stable sponsorship, the financial pressure became overwhelming. What should have been the beginning of a new era instead marked the end of the club’s first chapter.

For many years thereafter, Vanguard existed only in memory — spoken about in stories of legendary derbies, near-glory, and what might have been.

In 2021, Cala Vanguard was given new life. Local school teacher and aspiring coach Siphiwe Nkunkuma took it upon himself to revive the club. With limited resources but a clear vision, he rebuilt Vanguard from the ground up by recruiting local school footballers — young boys who would be competing against seasoned senior players in the Sakhisizwe Local League.

The challenge was immense, but the response was inspiring. The young Vanguard players competed bravely, learning quickly and growing with each season. Their discipline, resilience, and collective spirit allowed them not only to survive, but to rise. Step by step, they worked their way up the football ladder.

Today, Cala Vanguard competes in the SAFA Chris Hani Regional Hollywood Bet League, marking another significant milestone in the club’s long journey back toward national relevance.

The revival of Cala Vanguard is more than a football story. It is a story of community, memory, and unfinished business. From the passionate derbies that once stopped Cala in its tracks, to the harsh realities of infrastructure and funding, and now to a youth-driven rebirth rooted in local schools — Vanguard’s journey reflects both the challenges and the promise of rural football development in South Africa.

The aim is clear: to continue rising through the ranks, to go further than the previous generation ever could, and ultimately to reach the PSL — this time on firmer ground.

As the club’s historic slogan reminds us:

Victory is Certain.