Real madrid FC

Did you know that South African football once had its own Real Madrid, albeit they weren't quite as successful as their namesakes? Spanish giants Real Madrid ...

“The previous name created challenges when the team played nationally because there is already a team in Spain with the same name.” The club formerly known as Real Madrid enjoyed some previous success in the Vodacom League, only to miss out on promotion in the playoffs, and while they don’t quite have a conveyor belt of talent like their Spanish counterparts, one time Madridista Thabo Mosegomi did go on to play for Free State Stars. They aren’t the only club in the lower leagues of South African soccer to take naming inspiration from one of world football’s more recognisable clubs. In 2008-09, South Africa’s Real Madrid enjoyed a remarkable run in the Nedbank Cup—the domestic equivalent of the FA Cup—when they advanced to the Round of 32 of the competition, which pits professional teams against amateurs. And so, South Africa’s Real Madrid were born, albeit they didn’t quite enjoy the glory of their namesakes. [It was the club’s finest hour since they were rebranded by the club’s owner in 1989, having previously been known as Ipogeng Stars upon their formation in 1987.The owner, however, deciding to take inspiration from his favourite team—Real Madrid—opted to undertake a complete remodelling of the Stars’ image.](https://www.goal.com/en-za/news/who-are-south-africas-real-madrid/1camwax89it8aza4nxuju5u0p)