The 2024/25 SAFA ABC Motsepe League National Playoffs officially commenced on Tuesday, 1 July at the Giant Stadium in Soshanguve, Gauteng.
The playoffs were initially set to take place in the Ekurhuleni region at the Tsakane Stadium. However, the round-robin games were moved to Giant Stadium because Tsakane Stadium was not in a good condition.
Meanwhile, Lucas Moripe Stadium located in Atteridgeville will host the semi-finals and the final of this year’s national playoffs.
Each club in the playoffs is gunning for promotion to the Motsepe Foundation Championship next season.
This year, three teams will earn promotion to the Motsepe Foundation Championship, not two clubs as it used to be, following the expulsion of Royal AM from the PSL.
THAMES FC BEAT KAKAMAS JUVENTUS IN THE FIRST GAME
In the first game of the day, Thames FC from North West secured a 2-1 victory over Kakamas Juventus of Northern Cape in Group C.
The final fixture of the day between Zizwe United of the Western Cape and Midlands Wanderers from KZN ended in a 1-1 draw in Group A.
Meanwhile, a Limpopo provincial winner will be played either on Tuesday evening or Wednesday morning after the arbitration matter scheduled for this afternoon.
The decider between Mpheni Defenders and the Dolphins played last week Wednesday was declared null and void.
Mpheni will face either the Dolphins or Sunrise FC, subject to the outcome of the pending review.
On the other hand, in the Eastern Cape province, Sinenkani FC filed a lawsuit against SAFA to contest a ruling made by a match commissioner, whose son played for the rival team, FC Ravens, the reigning champions.
Sinenkani won the court case after the verdict favoured them, however, Ravens have filed an appeal to see the ruling overturned. The judgement was handed down on Tuesday afternoon.
The fight for promotion to the SA football second-tier continues tomorrow – Wednesday with more electrifying fixtures.
RELATED STORY: ABC Motsepe playoffs to go ahead despite pending cases