S.V. Transvaal

Early years

Founded on 15 January 1921 by Hendrik School students, a middle school in Paramaribo, Suriname, S.V. Transvaal is unusually named after the former province of South Africa, Transvaal Province. It was founded in the same year as two other clubs from Paramaribo, namely Olympia and Ajax. The first three years prior to the foundation of organized football in Suriname, Transvaal played on the Gouvernementsplein in Paramaribo amongst various other clubs, competing in leagues of different associations. 1923 marked the official start of organized football in Suriname, with Transvaal starting in the Tweede Klasse (present day Eerste Klasse), the second flight of football in Suriname. 1923 also marked the inauguration of the Cultuurtuinlaan, the new football facility, built by Dr. E. Snellen, the director of agriculture in Suriname. Transvaal participated in the inaugural ceremony, where they beat Juliana in a 2–0 win. Transvaal remained tenants of the Cultuurtuinlaan for the next 30 years until completion of the National Stadium.

In 1924, Transvaal won their first title, winning the Tweede Klasse undefeated in its maiden season. The club were able to win all six matches played, earning 12 points in the competition, and scoring 16 goals while conceding none. It was the first time a team had gone undefeated or played a season without conceding any goals. Transvaal were subsequently promoted to the SVB Hoofdklasse, the top flight of football in Suriname, after only one season in the second tier.

In 1925, SV Transvaal won their second consecutive title and first national championship, winning the Hoofdklasse in its third season. After a period of dominance by Ajax and Cicerone, Transvaal won the title once more in 1937. That same year the SVB organized their first trip to Brazil, with Transvaal player Waldy Goedhart joining the national team to play exhibition matches against Tuna Luso, Paysandu and Remo.

On 28 March 1947 matches were played at night in Suriname for the first time, with light fixtures assembled at the Cultuurtuinlaan, the matches played on that night were NAKS vs. Robinhood at 19:00 and Transvaal vs. Paramaribo at 20:00. Key players of the forties and fifties include Tjokrosendjojo Kamsoe, Ronald Breinburg and Walther Braithwaite, who would later become manager of the club.

Rise to dominance

The 1960s marked a decade of success for Transvaal, winning 7 out of 10 titles beginning in 1962, only conceding the 1961 and 1963 titles to Leo Victor and the 1964 edition to Robinhood. The team was managed by André Kamperveen, one of the country's most famous players and Transvaal's most famous managers, who had taken over the position in 1958. In 1967 he was succeeded by Ronald Kolf who helped Transvaal to two national titles before relinquishing the position to Jules Lagadeau. Both Kolf and Lagadeau earned their stripes as players on the pitch prior to taking their respective managerial roles. Transvaal boasted some of the country's best players at the time, with players such as Edwin Schal, Iwan Fränkel, Harald Reumel, Roy Vanenburg and Armand Sahadewsing.

Matches against Brazilian clubs (1960–1967)

Throughout the 1960s the SVB organized friendly tournaments and exhibition matches with the Suriname national team and invited clubs from Brazil to partake. Aside from the national team, clubs from the Hoofdklasse were invited to participate as well, including Transvaal, Robinhood and Leo Victor.

In 1962 Transvaal participated in the first edition of the Paramaribo Cup. They played Fortaleza, losing 2–1 to the visiting team from Brazil. On 10 April 1962 they played Santa Cruz from Brazil, losing 2–1 as well. The 1964 edition of the Paramaribo Cup saw Transvaal losing to visitors Botafogo from Brazil in a 4–1 loss. Apart from a 4–0 win against Olaria, Transvaal were unable to secure any wins in the series.

Match results

1968: First trip to Europe

In 1968, Transvaal travelled to Europe for the first time, scheduling games in the Netherlands and Belgium, against Dutch Eredivisie clubs Sparta, Ajax, Elinkwijk, AZ'67 and NAC, and against Belgian Pro League side Royal Antwerp. Transvaal were able to secure 4 wins, and 1 draw only losing to Ajax on their tour.

1968 CONCACAF Champions' Cup

In 1968, Transvaal participated in their first Continental tournament, qualifying for the 1968 CONCACAF Champions' Cup. The team were able to make it to the final in their first berth in the competition, defeating Scherpenheuvel from the Netherlands Antilles 4–2 on aggregate score and Aurora from Guatemala 3–1 on aggregate score in the process thus qualifying for the finals. The final against Toluca from Mexico however never happened due to a brawl that had ensued after the final match against Aurora when supporters from both clubs had invaded the pitch. Transvaal were disqualified for disorderly conduct.

In 1969, Flamengo from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil came to Paramaribo to play pre-season friendly matches against Robinhood and Transvaal at the National Stadium. Brazilian International Garrincha was playing for Flamengo at the time. While Robinhood lost the first match 3–1 to the visitors, Transvaal were able to secure a 3–2 win against the visiting team.

1971: Pelé's 1000th match

On 27 January 1971, O Rei himself Pelé and Santos F.C. from Santos, São Paulo came to Suriname to play Transvaal at the National Stadion. The match on 28 January 1971 was of historic significance as it was the 1000th career match played by Pelé. The Transvaal line-up included Emile Barron, Nortan, Gesser, Sordam, Boschman, Lagadeau, Bundel, Vanenburg, Schal, Brammerloo and Klimsop, while Santos line-up for the match included Cejos. Lima, Ramon Delgodo, Olando, Hildo Leo, Mene, Arken, Pi Colé, Pelé and Edu. Santos won the match 4–1 against Transvaal.

In 1972, Edwin 'Wiene' Schal became the first Transvaal player to be called up for the CONCACAF All-Star team, considered to be one of the top players in the confederation at the time.

1973 Season: Highest accolades

Showing steady improvement by each season, the 1973 season proved to be Transvaal's most successful to date. Under guidance of Jules Lagadeau, Transvaal went on to win the national title undefeated also winning the country's first ever CONCACAF Champions' Cup following the withdrawal of both Costa Rican clubs Alajuelense and Saprissa.

Accolades of the 1973 season include:

The Transvaal first team players who contributed to the 1973 season were Wiene Schal (captain), Castillion, Theo Klein, Wensley Bundel, Gesser, Pauli Corte, Headly, Roy Vanenburg, Nortan, Del Prado, Lagadeau, Sordam, Monsanto, Grootfaam, Schenkers, Anches and Boschman. The manager of the club in 1973 was Jules Lagadeau. To this date no club in Suriname have been able to match the success of Transvaal in the 1973 season.

1981 Season: The Golden Age

By 1981, Transvaal had become one of the most successful sides in Surinamese football. They had amassed 14 league titles already and held the only CONCACAF Champions League win for a Surinamese side back in 1971. With this season they would add their most recent international triumph over none other than Atlético Marte of El Salvador.

The 1981 CONCACAF Champions' Cup final took place in the city of Paramaribo, the capital of Suriname. According to former players, the onset of civil war in El Salvador was the reason CONCACAF decided to hold both games in the Andre Kamperveen Stadion in Suriname.

The first game was played with great difficulty. "The lawn was ugly [for lack of rain] and affected both teams," says Wensley Bundel, a midfielder who played in both games.

"Atlético Marte wanted to play short passes, but could not, so we took advantage of them," he said.

Wensley Bundel scored for Transvaal in the first game, which ended in 1–1 draw. Regarding the shot, he said, "It was a free throw. I remember that was barely hit the mark, but I gave it my all and I think [the] goalie is still looking for where the ball went."

For the second game, Johan Leisberger scored the winner. Transvaal played quick and fast and it paid off with raising the trophy under guidance of coach Humbert Boerleider. Thanks to an excellent performance, striker Theo Klein was hailed as the man of the match and was awarded player of the year in Suriname as well. Wensley Bundel to have won both CONCACAF titles with Transvaal.

There is a rumor amongst supporters of the club, that Transvaal actually defeated Cruz Azul from Mexico in the 1970 edition of the cup. This is not a known fact, but should this be the case then Bundel was the only player to have played in all three cup matches.

The Transvaal Lineup 1981:

1986 CONCACAF Champions' Cup

In 1986, Transvaal made it to the finals of the Continental tournament for the fourth time. By defeating SV Juventus (Netherlands Antilles), UNDEBA (Netherlands Antilles) and rivals Robinhood (Suriname), thus clinching the Caribbean region, Transvaal then defeated Trintoc (Trinidad and Tobago) in the semi-final to face Alajuelense (Costa Rica) in the final. Losing the series 4–2 on aggregate score, it would be the fourth time the two clubs would be drawn together in the history of the tournament.

1990–2000s and the end of an era

Although Transvaal were unable to proceed past the rounds of the Caribbean region in the CONCACAF Champions' Cup during the nineties, the club did win 5 national titles in the decade, winning the Hoofdklasse in 1990, 1991, 1996, 1997 and 2000. The closest Transvaal came to advancing in the Continental tournament was a 10–0 aggregate defeat against the Seattle Sounders in the USA/Caribbean playoff round introduced to the tournament that year. The loss against the team from Seattle marked the end of Transvaal's firm presence within the tournament having suffered an unprecedented loss.

A year later a new format to the tournament was introduced as well as the CFU Club Championship. Transvaal failed to advance past the first group stage of the tournament. They qualified for the 2001 edition but were forced to withdraw due to complications in their domestic league which saw no matches contested that year. Transvaal have not qualified for CFU Club Championship since.

New ownership, new coaches 2015-present

After witnessing how Transvaal almost relegated to the Eerste Klasse in the 2014-15 season, many people wonder if Transie would rise to dominance again.

Then on 22 December 2015, Rudisa bought the club and in 2016 appointed Dennis Baino as head coach. The new owner and manager brought some changes to the club, one of the changes was that players would now train four times a week. At the end of the 2016 season, Transie ended in second and qualified themselves to the CFU Club Championship, being the first time in 20 years that they have qualified themselves.

On 29 January 2017, the board of Transvaal decided to replace Baino, after eight games played in the new Topklasse league, because he failed to keep the club in mid table. Two days later the board appointed Baino's assistant, Raymond Mannen as the new head coach. The next day Transie played against SNL under the new manager and won the match with two goals to one.

Matches in the CFU Club Championship (2017)

In 2017, Transvaal participated in the 2017 edition of the CFU Club Championship. They played Puerto Rico FC, losing 1–0 to the hosting team from Puerto Rico. On 16 March 2017 they play Portmore United F.C. from Jamaica.

Match results

Stadium

Transvaal play their home matches at the André Kamperveen Stadion (formerly known as the National Stadion) in Paramaribo to a capacity of 7,100 people. They share the stadium with the Suriname national team. Transvaal have been tenants of the AK Stadium since construction was completed in 1953. Prior to the National Stadium, Transvaal played their home games on the Cultuurtuinlaan, across the street from where the stadium sits today. From 1953 to 2014, Transvaal shared the stadium with rivals S.V. Robinhood, before they suffered relegation in 2014, moving to the Frank Essed Stadion, together with S.V. Walking Boyz Company who had played at the Kamperveen stadium since 1997.

Youth stadium

Due to the high volume of activity at the clubs' home stadium, a result of the stadium being shared with the Surinamese athletics and cycling associations, a new stadium was erected in 1966 to serve as the training grounds for the youth teams of various clubs around Paramaribo. Transvaal were amongst the first tenants of the George W. Streepy Stadion, which serves as additional training facilities, as well as being the official stadium for the SVB Junior League, the youth league of the Surinamese Football Association.

Crest and colors

The club colors are green and white and the team is named after the former province of South Africa, Transvaal Province. The badge white and green stripes with 'S.V. Transvaal' written across the shield from the bottom left to the top right. There is also a football in the top left corner of the badge. The club's playing kits are always a combination of green and white. Having had varying patterns over the years, including shirt stripes and patches, the typical outfit warn is white for home and green for away colors, which are two of the national colors of Suriname.

Broadcasting

Since Transvaal is a club owned by Rudisa Holding Company, they are broadcast live on Rudisa's SCCN station. SCCN is a Surinamese television channel and have the rights to broadcast the matches that are being played by Transie. Also fans who want to watch games of Transie can watch it for free, but only the home league matches.

Players

As of November 2015.

Current squad 2015–16

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

Current squad 2017

Updated, as of March 14, 2017.

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

National

International

Other

CONCACAF Champions' Cup

CONCACAF Champions' Cup: 14 appearances

CFU Club Championship

CFU Club Championship: 3 appearances

Team records