At the onset of the 2025-’26 football season the management, coaches and players of FC Kayamandi had their eye on the prize: winning promotion to the ABC Motsepe League.

And on Sunday 5 July the club’s senior men’s team slotted that goal in the back of the net with a 2-1 victory over Harambee FC in Gansbaai for their club to be bumped up into the third highest tier of club soccer in South Africa.

“Promotion to the ABC Motsepe means everything to the club and its supporters,” said manager Dizo Ntibane.

“For the club and its players this promotion is validation of years of hard work. For Kayamandi, Stellenbosch and the entire Cape Winelands it puts us on the provincial and national map. Our supporters have waited for this moment, which brings hope, jobs and pride to the community. It is historic, as we are the first team from Kayamandi to achieve this feat.”

ALSO READ: Stellenbosch FC finally gets silverware in its cabinet

Harnessing local talent

The club, fondly known as “Net Boys” by their supporters, was established at the beginning of November 2024 when the former franchise of Malaga FC at Safa Cape Winelands was purchased.

Its mission is to give young footballing talent from the township and surrounds a professional pathway under the leadership of Phindile Madubela.

“Our goal has always been to represent Kayamandi with dignity and take the town’s name to national leagues,” Ntibane pointed out.

With its affiliation to the Stellenbosch Local Football Association (LFA), under the regional umbrella of Safa Cape Winelands, the team set out to establish itself in local soccer spheres. This season saw the club represented by two senior men’s teams as well as junior teams in the under-13 and under-15 leagues.

Ntibane pointed out that the club aims to feed the senior teams with talent from within the local community.

That philosophy paid dividends, with the senior men’s team enjoying an outstanding season, winning 19 of its 22 league matches, drawing two and only losing one outing.

“We fought until the last game of the play-offs and secured promotion to the ABC Motsepe League in a season built on consistency, team work and believing in the process,” Ntibane said.

“From day one, we set the team the target: promotion. We told the players we are not here to participate; we are here to dominate. The players and coaches bought into that vision. Through discipline, planning and belief we achieved it.

“The credit must go to the technical team for the game plan, the players who executed that plan, and the management team who created a professional environment, especially our chairman Madubela. “Our supporters were also amazing, standing with us through every game. This promotion is for the people of Kayamandi.”

Gearing up

As the euphoria of being crowned Safa Cape Winelands MRL champions, Western Cape Provincial MRL play-off champions and gleaning promotion continues, the club’s management team are already looking ahead to the future, with gaining sponsorships one of goals in the off-season.

“We have to consolidate and compete; the ABC Motsepe League is a big step up,” Ntibane said.

“Our immediate focus is to reinforce the squad with quality players, secure a compliant home venue and stabilise the club’s operations off the field, so that we can remain in that league and push even higher.”

He thanked Stellenbosch LFA, Safa Cape Winelands, the club’s partners, the community and sponsors International Chemical Company, Chill Beverages, Standard Bank Stellenbosch and Thole Security. “We are hands-on and ready to work. This is just the beginning; watch this space.”

For more information on the club or to sponsor it, contact the FC Kayamandi management team on 061 906 1699 or 021 889 3452, or via email on fckayamandinetboys@gmail.com.

ALSO READ: Barca Juniors FC promoted to men’s regional league