The much-awaited 2025/26 SAFA ABC Motsepe League National Playoffs officially kicked off on Tuesday, 2 June, producing entertaining football at the Mthatha Stadium in the Eastern Cape.
Nine provincial champions have gathered to compete for the ultimate prize: a spot in the final, which guarantees promotion to the professional ranks of the Motsepe Foundation Championship next season.
The South African Football Association [SAFA] leadership will be pleased with how the opening day unfolded, featuring seamless logistics and solid performances from the match officials.
HERE IS HOW THE ACTION UNFOLDED ON DAY 1 IN MTHATHA
Northern Cape’s NC Professionals started the competition on the right foot in Group C with a convincing 2-0 victory over Limpopo’s Mpheni Defenders in the opening match of the tournament.
The cross-provincial battle saw the Northern Cape outfit exploit defensive gaps to walk away with all three valuable points, leaving Mpheni with an uphill battle to qualify for the semi-finals.
In the most high-scoring affair of the day, Western Cape champions Sea Point Swifts [Hope FC] caused a major upset by defeating the tournament hosts FC Ravens 3-1 in a thrilling Group B encounter. Former Orlando Pirates and Cape Town City FC winger Craig Martin scored a brace for the Western Cape side in this game.
‘𝙄 𝙒𝙖𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝘼 𝙃𝙖𝙩-𝙩𝙧𝙞𝙘𝙠’- 𝘾𝙧𝙖𝙞𝙜 𝙈𝙖𝙧𝙩𝙞𝙣
Former Orlando Pirates and Cape Town City FC winger Craig Martin bagged a brace for Sea Point Swifts [Hope FC] of Western Cape on Tuesday, leading them to a 3-1 win over the hosts FC Ravens [Eastern Cape] in the… pic.twitter.com/SeC7G2eBsA
— FARPost (@FARPostZA) June 2, 2026
Despite backing from the local crowd, the Eastern Cape side struggled to contain the clinical transitions of Hope FC, who now firmly take control of their group.
Meanwhile, the final clash of Day 1 saw Mpumalanga’s Luthuli Brigades settled for a 0-0 draw with the North West University [NWU] in Group A.
It was a tactical affair, but both sides failing to find the back of the net, leaving the two teams sharing a point on day one.
The quest for automatic promotion to the National First Division continues tomorrow, Wednesday, 3 June, with a fresh set of fascinating fixtures as teams look to secure their semi-final spots.
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