The SAFA Chris Hani SAB League Champions Seven Stars FC will be playing their
football in the Provincial SAFA ABC Motsepe League next season after the past weekend’s
dominant performance in the SAB League Provincial playoffs in Gqeberha.
The
Eastern Cape SAB League provincial playoffs played at the Nelson Mandela Bay
Stadium in Gqeberha involved regional winners from eight Eastern Cape SAFA
regions, namely Hosts SAFA Nelson Mandela Bay (Motherwell Academy FC), SAFA
Alfred Nzo (Thohoyandou FC), SAFA Amathole (Musketeers FC), SAFA Buffalo City
(Relatives FC), SAFA Joe Gqabi (EMI FC), SAFA OR Tambo (Mighty Eagles FC), SAFA
Sarah Baartman (MARU FC) and Seven Stars FC from SAFA Chris Hani.
After
failing to impress in last season’s playoffs in Mthatha, Stars kicked off the
campaign on fire against hosts Motherwell Academy in the opening fixtures of
the two-day tournament, walloping them 5-0 with Shaydon Rowland scoring a hat
trick in that game. Rowland went on to become the tournament’s top goal scorer with
seven goals in three games. Stars continued with the form beating Musketeers
2-1 in their second game, while drawing their last game against Relatives 3-3.
Scouts
from professional teams such as Kaizer Chiefs, Pretoria University and Cape
Town Spurs were present to search for fresh talent and they all showed interest
in Seven Stars striker, Rowland.
The
battle for promotion was not an easy one for the team from Aloevale in Komani
as they were trying for the second time this year in the Provincial Playoffs.
The
President SAFA Chris Hani Sandile Mata has congratulated Seven Stars for being
promoted.
“This
win is massive. This has been a fairy-tale by Seven Stars in this tournament,’’
said SAFA CH President Mata.
“On
behalf of the football family in the Chris Hani District, I would like to say
congratulations to Stars players, the coaching staff and management. This has
been a team effort and this win has lifted the spirit of the entire region”.
This
is a third football team to be promoted to the provincial league under the leadership
of Mata in the region, the first team was Amavarara in 2018, the women football
team from Engcobo Eluhewini Ladies followed and now Seven Stars.
Alfred
Nzo side Thohoyandou FC also got promoted after winning Group A in Gqeberha.
