North West University [NWU] and Sea Point Swifts [Hope FC] have officially secured promotion to the Motsepe Foundation Championship for the upcoming season.
This comes after both teams won their respective semi-final encounters at the 2025/26 SAFA ABC Motsepe League National Playoffs on Saturday, 6 June.
The highly anticipated semi-final double-header took place at the Mthatha Stadium in the Eastern Cape. The final two spots for South African football’s second-tier were up for grabs.
In the day’s early kick-off at 11:00 AM, North West province ABC Motsepe League champions NWU went toe-to-toe with KwaZulu-Natal’s Mkhambathi FC. ‘The Purple Army’, under the guidance of head coach Nkululeko Khwezilomso Malgas, put on a resilient performance to edge out Mkhambathi 2-1.
NWU BOOK THEIR SPOT IN THE FINALS
The victory ensures that the North West province has three professional football teams in the PSL. The province already has the likes of Lerumo Lions FC and Orbit College FC. Unfortunately, Orbit recently got relegated from the Betway Premiership to the Motsepe Foundation Championship.
HOPE FC JOIN THE PARTY
The afternoon action saw Northern Cape’s NC Professionals square off against Western Cape champions Sea Point Swifts, well known as Hope FC, at 15:00.
NC Professionals, led by head coach and chairman Robert Sebastian, tried to fight hard to secure a win against Hope FC. However, it was never meant to be. Dylan Deane’s side, Hope FC, managed to secure a 4-1 victory at the end of the day.
The win for the Western Cape club marks a historic milestone, as they transition to the professional ranks.
By virtue of winning their semi-finals, both NWU and Hope FC have secured the ultimate prize: Motsepe Foundation Championship status.
THE ABC MOTSEPE LEAGUE NATIONAL PLAYOFFS GRAND FINALE
While promotion is already in the bag, the ultimate crown of being named national champions is still up for grabs.
NWU will now go head-to-head with Hope FC in the final. The ABC Motsepe League National Playoffs final will take place on Sunday, 7 June. The match is scheduled to kick off at 15:00 at the Mthatha Stadium.
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