Les Grobler, cup winner with Moroka Swallows, passes away

Les Grobler, whose goalscoring partnership with Shane MacGregor formed the backbone of Rangers’ title triumph in 1986, died on Monday.

Grobler was also a Bob Save Super Bowl winner at Moroka Swallows in 1989 and 1991 is the father of Bradley Grobler, the veteran Stellenbosch and former Bafana Bafana striker.

He was 64 years-old, was a chartered accountant by trade and had been hospitalised for a stomach complaint on Friday, passing away unexpectedly.

Grobler came through the amateur ranks with Boksburg to join Rangers, the Johannesburg club he and his father had supported as a boy.

He scored 12 goals in his first season, while MacGregor got 22, as the club finished runners-up to Clive Barker’s Bush Bucks in the title race.

Rangers, however, went one better the next season, beating Bucks by four points to the title with Grobler scoring 19 goals and MacGregor 27 in a stellar season.

His scoring form continued with 14 in the 1987 season but in 1988 he returned to the amateur ranks with Jeppe Highlands and played for South Africa’s Currie Cup side.

In 1989, Grobler joined Swallows and kept up his scoring form with 16 goals in all competitions, including helping the team to BoB Save Super Bowl title.

They beat Mamelodi Sundowns 5-2 in the replay at Soccer City with Grobler scoring the last goal in the final minute.

Two years later he won the Super Bowl for a second time as the Birds edged Jomo Cosmos 2-1 in the final.

He was on the losing side with Rangers in the 1987 Top Eight Cup final and twice with Swallows – in all three finals to Chiefs.

Grobler was known for his aerial prowess, free kick ability and athleticism and could play in both midfield and upfront. He was famously always the driver of the team kombi to matches and training

In 1992 Grobler started coaching at Boksburg and joined Silver Stars in 2006 as an assistant to his ex-teammate Owen da Gama.

Grobler was later at Highlands Park as Head of Development and coach of their DStv Diski Challenge side.