Black Aces was a South African football club that played in the Premier Soccer League. Aces usually played their home games in the Mpumalanga province but were based and trained in Johannesburg.
History The original club was founded in 1937 by dairy workers. The club folded after finishing 14th in the National First Division inland stream in 2002. The club had also been known as the Ukhumba Black Aces, Witbank Black Aces and Super Kurl Aces during its existence.
The club was in its second incarnation, and they entered the South African football league in 2007 when the Polokwane-based City Pillars league license was bought and the team was transferred to Witbank from Limpopo. The license was acquired in December 2006, and the team played under the name of Mpumalanga Black Aces in time for the 2007–08 season.
In 2004, two South African businessmen George Morfou and his brother Mario bought the club side Dangerous Darkies, a Vodacom League but the team failed to win promotion to the Mvela Golden League. The Vodacom League team was renamed Aces Academy in 2007 following the brothers' acquisition and in 2011, it was renamed AmaZayoni FC.
On 30 July 2014, it was announced that Aces had signed a new sponsorship deal with ISPS.
In 2016, John Comitis purchased the franchise rights, closing the club and creating Cape Town City F.C.
Honours Bob Save Super Bowl Winners (1): 1993 BP Top Eight Cup Winners (1): 1980 PSL promotion/relegation play-off Winners (2): 2008–09, 2012–13
Club records Most starts: Percy Nxumalo 286 Most goals: Percy Nxumalo 64 Most starts in a season: Joseph Sibiya 41 (1992) Most goals in a season: Johannes Shili 19 (1992) Record Victory: 6–0 vs Royal Tigers (20/9/94, League) Record Defeat: 1–7 vs Hellenic (28/5/97, League)
League record
National Soccer League 1985 – 10th 1986 – 11th 1987 – 14th 1988 – 8th 1989 – 14th 1990 – 11th 1991 – 15th 1992 – 7th 1993 – 14th 1994 – 11th 1995 – 14th
Premiership 1996–97 – 18th (relegated)
National First Division 1997–98 – 2nd (Inland Stream) 1998–99 – 10th (Inland Stream) 1999–00 – 12th (Inland Stream) 2000–01 – 13th (Inland Stream) 2001–02 – 14th (Inland Stream, folded) 2007–08 – 5th (Inland Stream, purchased licence from City Pillars) 2008–09 – 2nd (Inland Stream, promoted)
Premiership 2009–10 – 15th 2010–11 – 16th (relegated)
National First Division 2011–12 – 13th 2012–13 – 3rd (promoted)
Premiership 2013–14 – 7th 2014–15 – 10th 2015–16 – 4th (sold licence to Cape Town City)
Managers Johnny Ferreira (1993–95) Steve Haupt (1997–99) Sammy Troughton (20 November 2008 – 10 November 2009) Aiki Agiomamitis (11 November 2009 – 21 September 2010) Neil Tovey (30 September 2010 – 23 December 2010) Paul Dolezar (December, 2010 – February, 2011) Mark Harrison (23 February 2011 – 27 June 2011) Craig Rosslee (July, 2011 – November, 2012) Rodolfo Zapata (November 2012 – May, 2012) Jacob Sakala (1 June 2012 – 30 June 2013) Clive Barker (4 March 2013 – 2015) Jacob Sakala (March, 2014 – 31 May 2015) Muhsin Ertuğrul (June, 2015 – 2016)
References