26 May 2026 – A Technical Study Group (TSG) will be introduced for the first time ever in the ABC Motsepe National Play-offs that will be played from 1-7 June 2026 at the uMthatha Stadium in Eastern Cape.
This is according to SAFA Technical Director Molefi Ntseki, who made the announcement at the 2026/2027 draw of the competition held on Tuesday at SAFA House.
Nine provincial teams are taking part, and the top two sides will gain promotion to the professional ranks, joining the Motsepe Foundation Championship, also known as the National First Division, which is the second tier in South African football.
Ntseki says the (TSG), to be led by Zunaid Mall, the SAFA Head of the Coaching department, will be for the benefit of teams and South African football in general.
“The technical study group will be reporting back to the clubs about, among others, the formations, the qualifications of the coaches, modern trends in football and the type of goals scored. So the TSG will be putting together a technical report that will be sent to all the teams that are going to participate in this tournament so that we can also help in the development of football in our country. This is the only tournament that is under SAFA where the teams leaving this league head to the professional ranks of the Motsepe Foundation League. We pride ourselves with all the technical work that we put into all the teams,” said Ntseki.
“The other innovation in this tournament is that referees will be coming in to conduct a workshop with the coaches and the players in terms of the new rules of the game. Everybody will be capacitated coming into this tournament so that we don’t have too many issues when it comes to people understanding the laws of the game because recently some new rules have been passed and implemented.”
In the draw conducted on Tuesday, the nine teams were divided into three groups of three each with North West University (NW), Mpumalanga and Gauteng in Group A. Sea Point Swifts (WC), FC Ravens (EC) and Mangaung Unite (FS) are in Group B, while Group C has NC Professionals (NC), Mpheni Defenders (Limpopo) and KwaZulu Natal.
Three provinces – Gauteng, KZN and Mpumalanga – are yet to provide the names of the teams that will be participating. The draw was attended by, among others, Advocate Andrew Matube, a Trustee at the Motsepe Foundation, Kwenzakwakhe Ngwenya, Chairperson of the SAFA Competitions Committee, SAFA NEC Member Job Mchunu and SAFA CEO Lydia Monyepao.
“For us as the Motsepe Foundation, this is a very crucial league and these play-offs are a very important step as we prepare the teams for the professional ranks, and we are excited to be playing our role in the development of South African football. I would like to take this opportunity to wish the nine provincial teams a successful tournament, and even more luck to the top two teams that will be promoted to the Motsepe Foundation League. We are really looking forward to this tournament,” said Matube.
Newly promoted from the Motsepe Foundation Championship to the Betway Premiership, Kruger United from Mpumalanga, started their journey in the ABC Motsepe League.
“This is an important period for the nine teams that are involved in these play-offs after the journey they have travelled the entire season. They are now standing at the gates of glory and at the end of the tournament we will be saying well done to the two that would have been promoted and better luck next time to those don’t make it. A lot of sacrifices have been made, and we can only thank each and every one of these teams for the dedication they have shown to the beautiful game. All the best to all and may the best team win,” said Ngwenya.
The first match will see NC Professionals take on Mpheni Defenders at 09h00, with the semi-finals scheduled for 6 June while the final has been set for 7 June.
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