ABC Motsepe playoffs set for Umlazi

The national playoffs for the ABC Motsepe League will now be played from 22 to 27 July at the King Zwelithini Stadium in Umlazi.

The initial date was meant to be earlier in July, but the adjustment was made after the organisers met to decide the best way to structure this exciting event

The playoffs will decide which two teams from South Africa’s third tier will participate in the National First Division (second tier) in the 2014/15 season.

The way it works is that the nine provincial winners from around the country will gather for the finals and each team will have the chance to go from amateur to semi-professional football at least.

But right now only two sides have been confirmed for the playoffs as the other provinces are either still playing the final few matches of their league campaigns or grappling with challenges to the league winners from disgruntled opponents.

Highlands Park are confirmed and will represent Gauteng. The other club confirmed for the ABC Motsepe League playoffs this year are Cape Town All Stars, who found fame in 2012 when they played Kaizer Chiefs in the first round of the Nedbank Cup and lost 3-0 at Soccer City.

What makes the ABC Motsepe League more interesting this year is that Mamelodi Sundowns owner Patrice Motsepe announced the sponsorship deal of the third tier of South African football in March. Before this they lacked a sponsor.

The playoffs will see the nine competing teams split into two groups, one with five sides and the other with four.

They play each other in a round-robin format with the top two sides in each final not only advancing to the final, but qualifying for the NFD next season.