Football league season
The 2023–24 SAFA Second Division (known as the ABC Motsepe League for sponsorship reasons)[1] SAFA Second Division , the third tier for South African association football clubs, since its establishment in 1998. Due to the size of South Africa, the competition was split into nine divisions, one for each region. After the league stage of the regional competition is completed, the nine winning teams of each regional division entered the playoffs.[2]
Highbury F.C. from the Eastern Cape, and Kruger United from Mpumalanga qualified for the final, with both earning promotion to the 2024–25 National First Division.
Highbury F.C. defeated Kruger United 2-0 in the final, with Highbury taking R1.2 million in prize money, and Kruger United R600,000.[3]
The competition is administered by the South African Football Association .[4]
In January 2024, a game in the Limpopo A stream between Madridtas FC and Vondwe XI Bullets in Tshifudi outside Thohoyandou resulted in a referee being attacked.[5]
In May 2024, three officials were suspended for soliciting bribes.[6]
Regions Eastern Cape Newly promoted teams:[7]
Free State Newly promoted teams:[7]
Gauteng Newly promoted teams:[7]
Mike 1 Stars
University of Johannesburg The division was won by Dondol Stars for the second year in a row.[8]
Kwazulu-Natal Newly promoted teams:[7]
Dlangezwa Hellenic
Swayimane United The KwaZulu-Natal provincial playoffs were won by Njampela FC, who defeated uMsinga United 1-0 after extra time. The game ended 0-0 in regulation time. Their coach, Tshepo Motsoeneng, will be making his sixth appearance at the national playoffs.[9]
Limpopo Newly promoted teams:[7]
Nkowankowa Continental
Sunrise FC Mpumalanga Newly promoted teams:[7]
The franchise of Passion F.C. was purchased by Cunningmore B.[10]
League table
Pos
Team
Pld
W
D
L
GF
GA
GD
Pts
Qualification or relegation
1
Kruger United
28
17
8
3
42
14
+28
59
Playoffs
2
Ehlanzeni United FC
28
16
7
5
38
21
+17
55
3
Destiny College
28
13
10
5
33
19
+14
49
4
Phezulu FC
28
13
7
8
41
28
+13
46
5
Middelburg United
28
11
8
9
27
23
+4
41
6
Secunda M Stars
28
11
8
9
31
28
+3
41
7
Witbank City Lads
28
11
6
11
35
32
+3
39
8
Fernie Battalion FC
28
9
10
9
30
34
−4
37
9
FC Sivutsa NPC
28
8
10
10
32
31
+1
34
10
Mpumalanga Football Academy
28
10
3
15
31
35
−4
33
11
The Bees
28
8
9
11
29
33
−4
33
12
Sibange Young Bucks
28
8
7
13
32
43
−11
31
13
Phaphama FC
28
7
8
13
28
38
−10
29
14
Mpumalanga Future United FC
28
7
8
13
24
42
−18
29
15
Bakoena Chiefs
28
4
5
19
17
49
−32
17
North West Newly promoted teams:[7]
Stream A
Pos
Team
Pld
W
D
L
GF
GA
GD
Pts
Qualification or relegation
1
Army Rockets FC
16
12
3
1
40
8
+32
39
Playoffs
2
Lerumo Lions
15
8
4
3
30
14
+16
28
3
Kgositlile FC
16
9
1
6
31
24
+7
28
4
Spain FC
15
8
2
5
21
13
+8
26
5
Thaba Tshwane FC
16
6
4
6
19
20
−1
22
6
TUT FC
16
5
5
6
25
25
0
20
7
NWU Tawana FC
16
4
3
9
19
30
−11
15
8
Black Eagles
16
3
2
11
19
29
−10
11
9
North West Super Stars FC
16
2
4
10
12
53
−41
10
Stream B
Pos
Team
Pld
W
D
L
GF
GA
GD
Pts
Qualification or relegation
1
Thames FC
16
11
3
2
41
18
+23
36
Playoffs
2
Mahika Champions
16
8
5
3
27
15
+12
29
3
Montshioa Swallows FC
16
8
5
3
30
23
+7
29
4
North West University
15
6
5
4
21
11
+10
23
5
Stilfontein Real Hearts
15
6
3
6
17
16
+1
21
6
NW Signal
16
5
4
7
20
22
−2
19
7
Indomitable Lions FC
16
5
3
8
25
27
−2
18
8
City Rovers FC
16
3
7
6
19
27
−8
16
9
Taung Mega Stars
16
1
1
14
16
57
−41
4
Northern Cape Newly promoted teams:[7]
Stream A
Pos
Team
Pld
W
D
L
GF
GA
GD
Pts
Qualification or relegation
1
NC Professionals
16
13
3
0
41
8
+33
42
Playoffs
2
Kakamas Juventus
16
10
5
1
33
18
+15
35
3
Olifantshoek Sporting
16
9
3
4
26
22
+4
30
4
Upington Tornado
16
6
3
7
27
25
+2
21
5
Benfica FC
16
5
4
7
22
24
−2
19
6
Kakamas Sundowns
16
4
4
8
18
22
−4
16
7
Olympics
16
4
4
8
26
32
−6
16
8
Amaeleven FC
16
3
3
10
25
38
−13
12
9
Olifantshoek Young Stars
16
2
3
11
20
49
−29
9
Stream B
Pos
Team
Pld
W
D
L
GF
GA
GD
Pts
Qualification or relegation
1
Saints FC
16
12
3
1
39
16
+23
39
Playoffs
2
Jacksa Spears
16
11
4
1
42
13
+29
37
3
Tsantshabane Stars FC
16
9
3
4
21
13
+8
30
4
Postmasburg FC
16
7
1
8
16
18
−2
22
5
United Rovers
16
5
3
8
30
34
−4
18
6
Diamond City
16
4
5
7
18
31
−13
17
7
Kuruman Scorpions
16
4
3
9
13
34
−21
15
8
Mighty Moovers
16
4
1
11
26
32
−6
13
9
Rasta Far Eagles
16
3
3
10
14
28
−14
12
Western Cape Newly promoted teams:[7]
Junction Rovers
Oriented Birds Stream A
Pos
Team
Pld
W
D
L
GF
GA
GD
Pts
Qualification or relegation
1
FN Rangers
16
12
4
0
37
11
+26
40
Playoffs
2
Ikapa Sporting
16
9
3
4
27
21
+6
30
3
Hanover Park
16
8
5
3
36
22
+14
29
4
Santos
16
9
2
5
28
19
+9
29
5
Junction Rovers
16
6
3
7
32
35
−3
21
6
Ubuntu Football Club
16
6
2
8
44
32
+12
20
7
Young Bafana
16
5
1
10
21
34
−13
16
8
Royal Blues
16
3
3
10
17
40
−23
12
9
Ukhanya United
16
2
1
13
13
41
−28
7
Stream B
Pos
Team
Pld
W
D
L
GF
GA
GD
Pts
Qualification or relegation
1
Clarewood
16
11
3
2
31
15
+16
36
Playoffs
2
Grassy Park United
16
9
4
3
30
18
+12
31
3
Maties F.C.
16
9
1
6
22
22
0
28
4
Oriented Birds
16
6
5
5
29
28
+1
23
5
Hout Bay United
16
6
4
6
30
25
+5
22
6
Zizwe United
15
4
5
6
20
19
+1
17
7
Cape Town Spurs Youth
16
5
2
9
31
35
−4
17
8
City Kings
16
3
5
8
13
23
−10
14
9
Batalions FC
15
3
1
11
12
33
−21
10
The Western Cape playoffs were won by FN Rangers, who defeated Clarewood FC 2-0 in the final.[11]
Playoffs Group A Njampela FC (KwaZulu-Natal)
Mpheni Defenders (Limpopo)
FN Rangers (Western Cape) Group B Mangaung Unite (Free State)
Highbury FC (Eastern Cape)
Thames FC [North West] Group C NC Professionals (Northern Cape)
Kruger United (Mpumalanga)
Dondol Stars (Gauteng) [12]
Semi-finals [13] [14]
Final References
^ Laduma, Soccer. "SAFA and Motsepe Foundation renew ABC Mostepe League partnership" . Soccer Laduma . Retrieved 27 December 2023 . ^ "SAFA ABC Motsepe League" . SAFA.net . 25 March 2017. Retrieved 16 September 2021 .^ Raophala, Mauwane (23 June 2024). "Highbury FC crowned ABC Motsepe League National Playoffs champions" . FARPost . Retrieved 29 June 2024 . ^ "SAFA ABC Motsepe League - SAFA.net" . 25 March 2017. Retrieved 25 January 2024 .^ Munyai, Ofhani (15 January 2024). "Another match official manhandled in the ABC Motsepe League" . FARPost . Retrieved 25 January 2024 . ^ Munyai, Ofhani (13 May 2024). "Three SAFA match officials suspended for soliciting bribes" . FARPost . Retrieved 18 May 2024 . ^ a b c d e f g h i Raophala, Mauwane (22 August 2023). "Teams promoted to ABC Motsepe League" . FARPost . Retrieved 25 January 2024 . ^ Raophala, Mauwane (15 April 2024). "Dondol Stars crowned Gauteng ABC Motsepe League champions" . FARPost . Retrieved 26 April 2024 . ^ Raophala, Mauwane (29 April 2024). "Tshepo Motsoeneng off to ABC Motsepe national playoffs for the sixth time" . FARPost . Retrieved 1 May 2024 . ^ Raophala, Mauwane (22 July 2023). "Cunningmore B United secure ABC Motsepe League status" . FARPost . Retrieved 25 January 2024 . ^ Raophala, Mauwane (13 May 2024). "Thames, FN Rangers secure ABC Motsepe League National Playoffs berths" . FARPost . Retrieved 18 May 2024 . ^ Raophala, Mauwane (4 June 2024). "ABC Motsepe League National Playoffs draw confirmed" . FARPost . Retrieved 3 July 2024 . ^ Raophala, Mauwane (21 June 2024). "Two new Motsepe Foundation Championship clubs confirmed" . FARPost . Retrieved 3 July 2024 . ^ Raophala, Mauwane (20 June 2024). "ABC Motsepe League National Playoffs semi-finalists confirmed" . FARPost . Retrieved 3 July 2024 .