Limpopo could be on the verge of welcoming a brand-new professional football franchise, with FARPost establishing that ABC Motsepe League side Baduzah Celtics are in advanced talks to purchase Upington City FC’s NFD status.
This publication can reveal that negotiations to secure the Motsepe Foundation Championship franchise are at an advanced stage.
The ambitious third-tier outfit is already preparing for life in the Motsepe Foundation Championship, turning heads by rolling out player trials ahead of the 2026/27 campaign. The club posted on their Facebook page on Monday, inviting players for trials scheduled from Tuesday, 14 July, until 17 July 2026. The sessions will take place at the Baduzah Sports Complex in Phalaborwa, Limpopo.
At the moment, Limpopo is represented by four teams across the top two tiers of South African football. Polokwane City FC and Sekhukhune United compete in the Betway Premiership, while Venda FC and Magesi FC represent the province in the Motsepe Foundation Championship.
The province’s professional contingent was reduced recently following the relegation of former PSL mainstays Black Leopards and Baroka FC from the NFD at the end of last season.
Whispers of relocating a new Motsepe Foundation Championship franchise to Limpopo are not entirely fresh. Rumours first emerged around January 2026 that businessman Aubrey ‘Baduzah’ Ngobeni, owner of Baduzah Celtics, was interested in purchasing Upington City’s NFD status.
Celtics currently compete in Stream A of the SAFA Limpopo ABC Motsepe League, where they narrowly survived relegation last season in the same group as eventual provincial champions Mpheni Defenders.
WHAT FARPOST HAS GATHERED ABOUT THE REPORTS OF BUDAZAH NFD STATUS?
This publication has gathered that negotiations between Baduzah and Upington City are indeed at an advanced stage.
However, whether the club jumped the gun by inviting players for trials before the deal is officially sealed remains to be seen.
At this point, there has been no official communication from Upington regarding the sale of their status.
FARPost reached out to Upington City FC chairman David Mogashoa, but his phone went unanswered. When contacted for comment, club spokesperson Clerence Ngobeni could only say, ‘we’ll update,’ before declining to comment further.
Meanwhile, the Motsepe Foundation Championship is scheduled to kick off on Friday, 21 August 2026. So far, the only new clubs in the league are NWU Soccer Institute [NWU Eagles] and Hope FC, both of whom secured promotion via the SAFA ABC Motsepe League national playoffs.
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