Premier Underdogs

A rising tide lifts all boats. The people of Swansea are rising fast now that their local team has been promoted to the Premier League. One such boat is Capetonian businessman Brian Katzen a part of the consortium that bought a dismal football team a decade ago. His share amounted to R11 and a portion of the £1.7 million debt the team had.

Ten years later and defying the odds, the team is now valued at around R900 million. The town is overjoyed and sees the promotion as an opportunity to turn around a city looking to rejuvenate itself.

Swansea West MP Geraint Davies believes councillors can shape its future and build the local economy, if only it "Pulls it's finger out". Both the town and the team have big jobs ahead of them, but Katzen is optimistic.

"We were at the bottom of the pile, now we are on top. But we've kept our humility and will continue doing things the right way. Our business plan remains the same: the fans are our customers."

Swansea manager Brendan Rodgers returned from a climb up Kilimanjaro for charity to discover that their opening game is Manchester City. “That’s like climbing Kilimanjaro twice!" he told Wales Online.

The team has had it's share of highlights in the past. Time will tell if they keep their form and remain at the top of their game or fade back into obscurity.