Zizwe United will represent the Western Cape in the ABC Motsepe League National Play-offs next month as log leaders after the league was declared final with 12 rounds of matches remaining.
The South African Football Association (SAFA) National Executive Committee has resolved to declare the 2019/2020 ABC Motsepe League in all nine provinces as final according to the existing log standings.
Therefore, the nine provincial teams currently occupying position number one, will proceed to the National Playoffs of the ABC Motsepe League which are expected to take place from 7 November 2020, SAFA said in a statement today. This is in order to determine the two teams which will be promoted to the GladAfrica Championships – South Africa’s second tier football league.
This decision means that Zizwe United will be the Western Cape representatives in the play-offs as they were in the summit of the log standings when the league was abruptly stopped in March due to the coronavirus. At the time Zizwe were on 46 points from 18 matches – four points clear of second-placed FN Rangers who had played one more game.
SAFA said, as a result of the decision, there will be no relegation in the ABC Motsepe League in the 2019/2020 season and the provincial playoffs for promotion to the ABC Motsepe League will proceed which will result in 18 teams in each Province for the 2020/2021 season.
In a circular sent out to all provinces, SAFA CEO, Advocate Tebogo Motlanthe, said the Covid-19 pandemic has affected the development of football in the world in general and South African football’s non-professional league in the country. ‘’The non-professional football was forced to stop before the matches could be finished in March 2020. There is a need for SAFA to promote the two teams which will participate in the GladAfrica Championships in the 2020/2021 season.
“Also, the registration period of players in the National Soccer League (NSL) is expected to close on 30 November 2020,” added Advocate Motlanthe. ‘’SAFA has to promote and not deny the opportunity to the teams that must be promoted to GladAfrica championships. The two promoted teams must be afforded enough opportunity to register and add more quality players for sustainability in the professional ranks. The two teams must be provided with enough time to prepare for resumption of the GladAfrica championships,’’ concluded Advocate Motlanthe.
The SAFA CEO said all other amateur football was still suspended until the Association gets a green light to resume from the government.
