2022–23 SAFA Second Division

The 2022–23 SAFA Second Division (known as the ABC Motsepe League for sponsorship reasons)[1] was the 25th season of the 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 was completed, the nine winning teams of each regional division entered the playoffs.[2]

SAFA Second Division
Season2022–23
ChampionsUpington City
PromotedUpington City, Orbit College

Upington City from the Northern Cape, and Orbit College from the North West qualified for the final, with both earning promotion to the 2023–24 National First Division.[3][4]

Upington City defeated Orbit College 3-1 in the final, with Upington City taking R1.2 million in prize money, and Orbit R600,000.[5]

Regions

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Eastern Cape

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Stream A

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Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification or relegation
1 Amavarara 16 10 4 2 28 11 +17 34 Playoffs
2 Sinenkani 16 8 5 3 28 15 +13 29
3 FC Ravens 16 7 7 2 21 10 +11 28
4 AmaMpondo United 16 7 3 6 20 18 +2 24
5 Highbury FC 16 5 8 3 23 21 +2 23
6 Matta Milan 16 5 3 8 14 21 −7 18
7 Thohoyandou FC 16 4 3 9 11 18 −7 15
8 Bush Bucks 16 3 6 7 15 23 −8 15
9 Champion FC 16 2 3 11 10 33 −23 9

Stream B

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Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification or relegation
1 Peace Makers FC 16 9 4 3 26 13 +13 31 Playoffs
2 FC Siyanda 16 9 3 4 29 17 +12 30
3 Bush Pirates 16 9 3 4 26 14 +12 30
4 Amaxesibe FC 16 6 4 6 19 21 −2 22
5 Relatives FC 16 5 6 5 15 24 −9 21
6 Hanley FC 16 4 8 4 15 14 +1 20
7 Seven Stars 16 3 8 5 17 22 −5 17
8 Bizana Pondo Chiefs 16 3 4 9 14 21 −7 13
9 FC Jacaranda 16 1 6 9 16 31 −15 9

Free State

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Stream A

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Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification or relegation
1 Buffalo FC 16 10 3 3 25 19 +6 33 Playoffs
2 D General FC 16 8 8 0 28 10 +18 32
3 Dikwena United 16 8 6 2 28 12 +16 30
4 African Warriors 16 7 8 1 21 10 +11 29
5 Marquard Dynamos 16 5 8 3 21 18 +3 23
6 Clever Boys 16 3 5 8 13 19 −6 14
7 Bloemfontein Young Tigers 16 2 6 8 16 26 −10 12
8 FC Spartans 16 2 4 10 12 27 −15 10
9 Welkom Real Stars 16 1 4 11 10 33 −23 7

Stream B

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Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification or relegation
1 FC Black Cross 16 13 1 2 39 18 +21 40 Playoffs
2 Mangaung Unite 16 11 3 2 35 11 +24 36
3 Mathaithai 16 7 3 6 26 24 +2 24
4 Sibanye Golden Stars 16 7 1 8 29 33 −4 22
5 Central University 16 6 3 7 23 19 +4 21
6 Peace Lovers 16 5 3 8 16 24 −8 18
7 Bloemfontein Eagles 16 5 2 9 17 21 −4 17
8 FC Matjhabeng 16 4 4 8 28 33 −5 16
9 Small Tigers 16 4 0 12 17 47 −30 12

Gauteng

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Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification or relegation
1 Dondol Stars 36 24 8 4 66 17 +49 80 Playoffs
2 Pele Pele 36 22 7 7 78 34 +44 73
3 Jomo Cosmos 36 22 7 7 54 28 +26 73
4 Soweto Super United 36 21 10 5 56 34 +22 73
5 Highlands Park 36 19 12 5 50 19 +31 69
6 African All Stars 36 21 5 10 55 38 +17 68
7 Hollywood Thunder 36 16 10 10 38 25 +13 58
8 M Tigers 36 15 12 9 65 40 +25 57
9 JBM FC 36 16 6 14 54 44 +10 54
10 Wits University 36 14 10 12 43 41 +2 52
11 Dube Continental 36 13 8 15 60 59 +1 47
12 ZK 36 11 7 18 39 54 −15 40
13 Ally's Tigers 36 10 10 16 34 52 −18 40
14 Senaoane Gunners 36 10 7 19 43 64 −21 37
15 Mamelodi Newcastle 36 10 5 21 32 59 −27 35
16 Tembisa Sports Centre 36 8 10 18 40 59 −19 34
17 Leruma United 36 9 6 21 39 58 −19 33
18 FC MaLions 36 3 7 26 20 68 −48 16
19 Casric F.C. 36 3 3 30 22 95 −73 12

Kwazulu-Natal

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Stream A

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Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification or relegation
1 Milford FC 18 12 5 1 27 7 +20 41 Playoffs
2 Mkhumbane Classic 18 12 3 3 28 12 +16 39
3 Stone Breakers 18 11 4 3 34 19 +15 37
4 Summerfield Dynamos 18 11 4 3 25 10 +15 37
5 Njampela FC 18 10 3 5 34 19 +15 33
6 Muzi King Masters 18 5 5 8 14 19 −5 20
7 Happy Wanderers 18 3 6 9 14 25 −11 15
8 Mtuba All Stars 18 4 1 13 19 32 −13 13
9 Asande FC 18 2 4 12 12 35 −23 10
10 Mkwakhwini Classic 18 2 1 15 16 45 −29 7

Stream B

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Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification or relegation
1 uMsinga United 18 11 5 2 31 10 +21 38 Playoffs
2 GWP Friends 18 11 5 2 28 9 +19 38
3 Mkhambathi FC 18 10 6 2 28 12 +16 36
4 Midland Wanderers 18 10 3 5 26 13 +13 33
5 Newcastle All Stars 18 8 7 3 24 20 +4 31
6 Ethekwini Coastal 18 7 1 10 19 22 −3 22
7 Umvoti 18 5 6 7 15 10 +5 21
8 Drakensberg FC 18 5 4 9 17 29 −12 19
9 Durban Pioneers 18 2 4 12 19 32 −13 10
10 XI Experience 18 0 1 17 8 58 −50 1

Limpopo

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Stream A

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Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification or relegation
1 Mpheni Home Defenders 16 15 0 1 30 5 +25 45 Playoffs
2 Giyani Happy Boys 16 11 3 2 32 18 +14 36
3 United Artists 16 6 4 6 11 11 0 22
4 Emmanuel FC 16 5 4 7 19 25 −6 19
5 Bellevue Village Winners Park 16 4 5 7 14 15 −1 17
6 Vondwe XI Bullets 16 4 5 7 18 22 −4 17
7 Munaca FC 16 4 4 8 16 17 −1 16
8 Musina United 16 4 4 8 14 23 −9 16
9 Mikhado FC 16 3 3 10 6 24 −18 12


Stream B

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Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification or relegation
1 The Dolphins 16 13 1 2 28 6 +22 40 Playoffs
2 Ngwaabe City Motors FC 16 12 3 1 32 7 +25 39
3 Mighty F.C. 15 7 2 6 18 22 −4 23
4 Tzaneen United 16 6 3 7 23 23 0 21
5 Tubatse United 15 6 3 6 25 26 −1 21
6 Eleven Fast Tigers 15 5 3 7 17 23 −6 18
7 Ditlou F.C. 16 5 2 9 21 26 −5 17
8 PJ Stars 16 3 2 11 9 24 −15 11
9 Phinnet F.C. 13 2 1 10 9 25 −16 7

Mpumalanga

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Stream A

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Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification or relegation
1 Secunda M Stars 16 9 6 1 24 11 +13 33 Playoffs
2 Fernie Battalion FC 16 10 3 3 31 19 +12 33
3 Sivutsa Stars 16 8 4 4 24 16 +8 28
4 Middelburg United 16 8 4 4 23 15 +8 28
5 Mpumalanga Football Academy 16 6 3 7 20 20 0 21
6 Passion FC 16 4 6 6 21 26 −5 18
7 Kanyamazane All Stars 16 5 2 9 15 20 −5 17
8 Witbank Citylads 16 4 3 9 14 21 −7 15
9 Witbank Shepard 16 1 3 12 11 35 −24 6


Stream B

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Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification or relegation
1 Mlambo Royal Cubs 15 10 2 3 29 14 +15 32 Playoffs
2 Barberton All Stars 16 9 2 5 35 21 +14 29
3 Gemsbok Classic 16 8 5 3 24 14 +10 29
4 Destiny College 15 7 5 3 20 13 +7 26
5 Sibange Young Bucks 15 6 5 4 20 14 +6 23
6 Bakoena Chiefs 16 4 6 6 24 27 −3 18
7 Phaphama FC 16 4 4 8 19 25 −6 16
8 Flymingo United FC 15 1 6 8 11 27 −16 9
9 Kabokweni Future Stars 12 1 1 10 5 32 −27 4

North West

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Stream A

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Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification or relegation
1 Orbit College 15 13 1 1 40 6 +34 40 Playoffs
2 Som United 15 10 1 4 20 11 +9 31
3 Stilfontein Real Hearts 15 7 3 5 22 19 +3 24
4 Kgositlile FC 15 7 2 6 20 23 −3 23
5 Army Rockets FC 14 5 2 7 17 25 −8 17
6 Thaba Tshwane FC 15 3 5 7 19 31 −12 14
7 NW Signal 14 3 3 8 14 21 −7 12
8 NWU Tawana 14 3 0 11 16 30 −14 9
9 Rustenburg FC 5 1 1 3 4 6 −2 4

Stream B

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Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification or relegation
1 North West University 15 11 2 2 38 12 +26 35 Playoffs
2 Bokone FC 15 10 1 4 31 18 +13 31
3 Black Eagles 15 8 5 2 21 11 +10 29
4 Mahika Champions 15 4 6 5 18 16 +2 18
5 FC Maberethe 15 4 6 5 15 23 −8 18
6 City Rovers 14 5 2 7 20 23 −3 17
7 TUT FC 15 4 3 8 17 19 −2 15
8 Taung Mega Stars 15 2 1 12 9 38 −29 7
9 Manong FC 7 2 0 5 3 12 −9 6

Northern Cape

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Stream A

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Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification or relegation
1 Upington City 16 12 3 1 27 7 +20 39 Playoffs
2 Kakamas Juventus 16 11 2 3 28 11 +17 35
3 NC Professionals 16 8 2 6 26 13 +13 26
4 Tornado FC 16 8 1 7 27 22 +5 25
5 Benfica FC 16 7 1 8 15 18 −3 22
6 Olympics 16 5 5 6 24 28 −4 20
7 Kakamas Sundowns 16 6 2 8 21 25 −4 20
8 Olifantshoek Sporting 16 4 4 8 18 23 −5 16
9 Olifantshoek Young Stars 16 0 2 14 9 48 −39 2


Stream B

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Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification or relegation
1 Diamond City 16 12 3 1 49 15 +34 39 Playoffs
2 Postmasburg FC 16 10 4 2 24 7 +17 34
3 United Rovers 16 8 2 6 33 32 +1 26
4 Jacksa Spears 16 7 4 5 32 28 +4 25
5 Tsantshabane Stars FC 16 7 3 6 25 16 +9 24
6 Warrenvale Stars 16 7 0 9 18 24 −6 21
7 Rasta Far Eagles 16 4 2 10 19 35 −16 14
8 Kuruman Scorpions 16 3 3 10 14 33 −19 12
9 Colville United 16 3 1 12 12 36 −24 10

Western Cape

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Stream A

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Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification or relegation
1 Zizwe United 16 11 2 3 25 12 +13 35 Playoffs
2 Hout Bay United 16 11 0 5 38 19 +19 33
3 Santos 16 7 4 5 25 20 +5 25
4 Grassy Park United 16 7 4 5 17 17 0 25
5 Maties FC 16 7 1 8 31 27 +4 22
6 City Kings 16 6 4 6 21 19 +2 22
7 Ikapa Sporting 16 5 3 8 16 26 −10 18
8 Cape Town Spurs Youth 16 4 3 9 17 29 −12 15
9 Mbekweni Sundowns 16 2 3 11 23 44 −21 9


Stream B

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Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification or relegation
1 Young Bafana 16 10 4 2 31 17 +14 34 Playoffs
2 Ubuntu Cape Town 16 10 2 4 35 23 +12 32
3 Clarewood JPM FC 16 9 3 4 36 13 +23 30
4 FN Rangers 16 9 3 4 31 13 +18 30
5 Hanover Park FC 16 8 3 5 39 19 +20 27
6 Batalion FC 16 7 4 5 18 23 −5 25
7 Ukhanya United 16 2 4 10 12 33 −21 10
8 Royal Blues 16 2 3 11 13 38 −25 9
9 Wanderers FC 16 1 2 13 10 46 −36 5

Playoff stage

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Western Cape winners Young Bafana were pulled from the playoffs a week before they started after losing an arbitration case lodged by rivals Zizwe United regarding playing with unregistered players. However, hours before kickoff, the ruling was set aside by the Gauteng High Court and Young Bafana entered the playoffs.[6]

Semi-finals

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The semifinal between hosts Umsinga United and Orbit College at Harry Gwala Stadium was marred by violence. Orbit College won 1–0, and at the end of the match, fans invaded the pitch, gunshots were fired, while Umsinga United's goalkeeper coach Gezani Zondi was struck on the head and needed medical attention.[7][8][9]

Upington City beat Mpheni Home Defenders of Limpopo 3–2 on penalties after a 1–1 draw in the first semi-final of the day, while Orbit College broke many hearts in a crowded Harry Gwala Stadium when they beat local side Umsinga United 1–0 in the second semi-final.

Upington City1 - 1Mpheni Home Defenders
Penalties
3–2
Umsinga United0 - 1Orbit College

Playoff final

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References

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  1. ^ Laduma, Soccer. "SAFA and Motsepe Foundation renew ABC Mostepe League partnership". Soccer Laduma. Retrieved 27 December 2023.
  2. ^ "SAFA ABC Motsepe League". SAFA.net. 25 March 2017. Retrieved 16 September 2021.
  3. ^ "Upington City, Orbit College promoted to Motsepe Foundation Championship". SAFA.net. 9 June 2023. Retrieved 11 June 2023.
  4. ^ Munyai, Ofhani (9 June 2023). "Two new Motsepe Foundation Championship clubs confirmed". FARPost. Retrieved 11 June 2023.
  5. ^ Raophala, Mauwane (11 June 2023). "Upington City crowned ABC Motsepe National Playoffs champions". FARPost. Retrieved 13 June 2023.
  6. ^ "Young Bafana win court case as drama hits ABC Motsepe League play-offs". www.sabcsport.com. Retrieved 11 June 2023.
  7. ^ "SAFA condemns violent acts of hooliganism and thuggery at National Playoffs". SAFA.net. 9 June 2023. Retrieved 11 June 2023.
  8. ^ Munyai, Ofhani (9 June 2023). "SAFA react to the ugly scenes at ABC Motsepe playoffs". FARPost. Retrieved 11 June 2023.
  9. ^ Gillion, Baden. "Chaos erupts as GUNSHOTS fired during ABC Motsepe playoffs". KickOff. Retrieved 11 June 2023.