BLOEMFONTEIN – Local football side Mangaung Unite FC renew their aspiration to secure promotion to South Africa’s second-tier professional football division – the National First Division – at the forthcoming ABC Motsepe League national promotion playoffs, set to take place from 1 to 7 June at the uMthatha Stadium in the Eastern Cape. Safa confirmed the draw on Tuesday 26 May, placing Mangaung Unite in Group B alongside Sea Point Swifts from the Western Cape (WC) and FC Ravens from the Eastern Cape.
Promotion remains the litmus test that the Sinki Leshabane-owned club has yet to pass, having fallen agonisingly short on five previous occasions. They are hoping the upcoming promotion playoffs will prove sixth time lucky, having qualified as winners of the Free State’s ABC Motsepe League – a title they clinched with two matches to spare in the 2025-’26 season. Despite being a dominant force in the Free State and reaching the national playoffs five times, Mangaung have historically fallen short of securing a place in South African professional football.
Their closest effort remains the one they made in 2018, when they reached the semifinals before their campaign came to a painful halt. Club chief executive officer Katlego Mokgele said ensuring they won the province ABC Motsepe League underscored a renewal of their quest for promotion and reflected the club’s collective drive and purpose.
“The inspiration behind this journey comes from years of falling short, years of coming painfully close, and from the unwavering resilience that has carried this club through every challenge. It is inspired by those who came before us, those who laid the foundation for football in Bloemfontein and across the Free State, and by the responsibility we carry in representing our people with pride,” said Mokgele.
“We are fuelled by both the pain of the past and the hope of what this moment could mean for our city and province.
“Promotion is not simply an ambition for us – it is a mission that every player, every member of the technical team, and every member of management is pursuing with complete unity and commitment.
“As a club, we are of one mind and one purpose. We now ask the people of Bloemfontein and the Free State to rally behind us as we continue this journey together,” said Mokgele.
Botshabelo-born Morena “Festy”
Lothane leads Mangaung as head coach in their latest promotion push, personally inspired by his initial success in guiding D’ General FC and Mathaithai FC to the Nedbank Cup last-16 stage. Lothane will be eager to draw on that experience as he marshals a squad energised by a commanding Free State campaign.
Mangaung’s most recent bid for promotion came in 2024 under the technical guidance of Teboho Ramakoa and Kagisho Evidence Dikgacoi, a campaign that ultimately fell short of the target.
At uMthatha Stadium, they will compete for two available slots in the National First Division against eight provincial winners from Limpopo, the Northern Cape, North West, Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, and the Western Cape, as well as the hosts from the Eastern Cape.
Mangaung open their campaign against hosts FC Ravens on Wednesday 3 June at 12:30.
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