SAFA take action after a 42-1 score line in league decider

A final league match of the season, with a promotion to the SAFA Hollywoodbets Regional League at stake in Limpopo, has come under scrutiny, after a 42-1 score line with five own goals.

Tshisaulu FC were competing with rivals Duthuni Future Stars to finish top of Thulamela Local Football Association [THULFA] stream D and qualify for the promotional playoffs.

For Tshisaulu to finish number one, they needed to score 16 goals during the last match of the season against Mashawana FC, to surpass their rivals, Future Stars. Both Tshisaulu and Future Stars were on 67 points, but the latter had a better goal difference.

The final match of the season took place at the Tshisaulu Sports Grounds in the Vhembe District in Limpopo on Sunday, 20 July 2025.

On that day of the season, Tshisaulu produced a historic score line, netting 20 goals in the first half and 22 in the second. The result meant Tshisaulu FC were crowned champions and headed to the promotion playoffs.

MATCH REFEREE QUESTIONS THE BEHAVIOUR OF THE TWO CLUBS INVOLVED

According to a match report, seen by FARPost, Tshisaulu’s opponents on the day, Mashawana, displayed questionable behaviour on the field.

This includes five own goals from their players and a red card to their goalkeeper, who intentionally handled a back pass.

The action prompted THULFA, who are the affiliate member of SAFA Vhembe, to take action. Following a disciplinary hearing on Wednesday, 6 August 2025, the two teams were ordered to replay the match on Saturday, 9 August 2025. But surprisingly, the two teams did not pitch.

The association has now summoned the two teams to another disciplinary hearing, which is scheduled for Saturday, 16 August 2025. This is to answer why they could not honour the rescheduled fixture.

SAFA LOCAL BOSS EXPRESS DISAPPOINTMENT OVER QUESTIONABLE RESULT

THULFA chairperson Joseph Nevhukalanga has condemned the behaviour, saying it has compromised sponsorship opportunities.

“It is very disappointing behaviour from our teams. We even lost a potential sponsor because you can’t look for a sponsor when the league is going on like this,” Nevhukalanga told FARPost.

“Every time we try to ask for a sponsor, they refer to these cases. It’s damaging to our association. We were trying to be lenient to our teams so that we could resolve this amicably. But to our surprise, they failed to honour the game. We can’t pre-empt how the DC will handle this case, but we are condemning this behaviour.”

This is not the first time that a SAFA League match has produced a bizarre score line in Limpopo. Three years ago, Matiyasi FC, who were vying for promotion to the Provincial ABC Motsepe League, beat Nsami Mighty Birds 59-1, with 41 of the goals scored as own-goals.

The teams were banned from football and threatened to take the case as far as FIFA, but did not succeed.

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