The much-anticipated 2025/26 SAFA ABC Motsepe League National Playoffs officially kicked off on Tuesday, 2 June, delivering entertaining football at Mthatha Stadium in the Eastern Cape.
โโNine 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.
โโThe 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.
โโHERE IS HOW THE ACTION UNFOLDED ON DAY 1 IN MTHATHA
โโNorthern 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.
โThe 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.
โโIn the highest-scoring affair of the day, Western Cape champions Sea Point Swifts [Hope FC] caused a major upset by defeating the tournament hosts, FC Ravens,ย 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.
‘๐ ๐๐๐ฃ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐ผ ๐๐๐ฉ-๐ฉ๐ง๐๐๐ ’- ๐พ๐ง๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ง๐ฉ๐๐ฃ
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 theโฆ pic.twitter.com/SeC7G2eBsA
โ FARPost (@FARPostZA) June 2, 2026
โDespite 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.
โMeanwhile, the final clash of day 1 saw Mpumalangaโs Luthuli Brigades settle for a 0-0 draw with the North West University [NWU] in Group A. It was a tactical affair, but neither side found the back of the net, leaving the two teams sharing a point.
โThe 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.
โโRELATED STORY:ย ABC Motsepe League National Playoffs draw confirmed
