BIZANA Pondo Chiefs have benefited from the South African Football Association (SAFA) national executive committee’s decision to declare the end of the 2019/2020 ABC Motsepe League in all nine provinces, leaving the teams which were leading each league when the national lockdown began to be declared as the champions.
SAFA’s announcement indicated that the nine provincial league winners would proceed to the national play-offs on November 9.
The national play-offs will determine the two teams which will be promoted to the GladAfrica championships for the 2020/21 season.
As a result of this decision, there will be no relegation in the ABC Motsepe League in the 2019/2020 season and the provincial play-offs for promotion to the ABC Motsepe League will proceed which will result in 18 teams from each province for the 2020/2021 season.
In a circular sent out to all provinces, SAFA CEO, advocate Tebogo Motlanthe, said the COVID-19 pandemic had affected the development of football throughout the world, including South Africa’s non-professional football leagues in the country.
As a result of the decision made by SAFA, Bizana Pondo Chiefs‚ who led the Eastern Cape log standings by a single point with eight matches remaining‚ will join eight other provincial leaders who will be taking part in the national play-offs.
The ABC Motsepe national play-offs draw was conducted at SAFA House on Thursday, October 15.
The play-offs will run from November 9-14, at the Vaal University of Technology in Gauteng.
Bizana Pondo Chiefs will play their first game of the play-offs against Mangaung United FC from the Free State, while their second game will be against Mikhado FC from Limpopo.
The semi-finals will take place on November 12, with the final scheduled for November 14, at the Vaal University of Technology Stadium.
