SAFA Second Division

ABC Motsepe League
Founded	1998
Country	South Africa
Confederation	South African Football Association
Divisions	9
Number of teams	144
Promotion to	National First Division
Relegation to	U21 SAB Regional League
Domestic cup(s)	Nedbank Cup
Most championships	Roses United
Website	Official Site
2015–16 SAFA Second Division

The SAFA Second Division, currently known as ABC Motsepe League for sponsorship reasons, and previously known as the Vodacom League between 1998-2012, was founded in 1998 as the current Second Division and the overall third tier of South African football. The competition is regulated by SAFA, and until 2012 had been sponsored by mobile telecommunications company Vodacom.

Currently it features 144 teams in total, divided into 9 divisions, borderly decided by the 9 geo-political provinces of South Africa: Eastern Cape, Free State, KwaZulu Natal, Northern Cape, Western Cape, Gauteng, Limpopo, Mpumalanga and North West. This means, that each Provincial division contains 16 teams as standard. The winner of each Provincial division qualifies for the annual Promotional Play-offs, where the winners of two streams, will get promoted to the National First Division. In each Province, the two lowest ranked teams by the end of the season, will be relegated to U21 SAB Regional League, which in return will promote two play-off winners from the Regional Championships.

An important rule to note, is that all clubs in South Africa also are allowed to compete with youth teams (U19/U21) and/or a Reserve team in a lower SAFA league. If a club opt to field such teams, the U19 teams will start out at the fifth level in the U19 National League, while U21 teams or Reserve teams will start out at the fourth level in the U21 SAB Regional League. If any U19 team win promotion for U21 SAB Regional League or SAFA Second Division, this promotion is fully accepted. No club are however entitled to field two teams at the same level, and rule 4.6.4 of the SAFA regulations states, that if the mother club play in the National First Division or Premier Soccer League, then the highest level these additional Youth/Reserve teams are allowed to compete, will be the SAFA Second Division. In such cases, where a non-promotable team manage to win their regional division, the ticket for the promotional playoffs will instead be handed over to the second best team in the division.^[1]

In the 2010–11 season these promotional restrictions mean, that: Ajax Cape Town U19, Bay Academy, Bid Boys, Celtic Colts, SuperSport T.H. Academy and Mitchells Plain United, were all accepted to play in the league, but without any possibility of further promotion.

In March 2014, the Motsepe Foundation signed a five-year deal for the naming rights of the competition worth 40,000,000 ZAR. Patrice Motsepe named the competition in honour of his late father, Augustine Butana Chaane Motsepe.^[2]

Provincial divisions

The 9 geographical provinces of South Africa, each have a local division in the SAFA Second Division. These divisions belong either to the Inland Stream or Coastal Stream, which are used to place the provincial winners into two round robin groups, at the promotional play-off stage by the end of the season. The Coastal Stream comprises: Eastern Cape, Free State, KwaZulu-Natal, Northern Cape, Western Cape; while the Inland Stream comprises: Gauteng, Limpopo, Mpumalanga and North-West. In previous years, until August 2008, the Free State province belonged to the Inland Stream.

Map of the two streams in the SAFA Second Division.

Inland Stream

Coastal Stream

Provincial winners

Coastal Stream

Eastern Cape

Season	Winner	Runner-Up
1998–99
1999–00	Blackburn Rovers
2000–01	PE Technikon	PE Tigers
2001–02	Blackburn Rovers	PE Tigers
2002–03	UPE-FCK	Blackburn Rovers
2003–04
2004–05
2005–06
2006–07	Lion City
2007–08	Bush Bucks F.C.	Matat Professionals F.C.
2008–09	Blackburn Rovers
2009–10	Blackburn Rovers	Tornado
2010–11	Buffalo	Tornado
2011–12	Tornado F.C.
2012–13
2013–14
2014–15
2015–16	Tornado	Lion City FC

Kwazulu Natal

Season	Winner	Runner-Up
1998–99
1999–00
2000–01	Nathi Stars	Leeds United
2001–02	Moja United	Greenpoint Vultures
2002–03	Nathi Stars	Italian Juventus
2003–04
2004–05
2005–06
2006–07	Abaqulusi
2007–08	Island	Rangers
2008–09	Newcastle Sicilians
2009–10	Island	African Wanderers
2010–11	Durban Stars	Sobantu Shooting Stars
2011–12	Maritzburg City F.C.
2012–13
2013–14
2014–15	Maluti FET College
2015–16	Kings United FC	Uthongathi FC

Northern Cape

Season	Winner	Runner-Up
1998–99
1999–00	Glenville
2000–01	William Prescod	Louisvale Pirates
2001–02	Young Pirates	Louisvale Pirates
2002–03	Dalton Brothers	Olympics
2003–04
2004–05
2005–06
2006–07	Kakamas Cosmos
2007–08	William Pescod F.C.	Louisvale Pirates F.C.
2008–09	Real Madrid
2009–10	Kakamas Sundowns	Wings United
2010–11	Real Madrid	Steach United
2011–12	Morester Jeug
2012–13
2013–14
2014–15
2015–16	Morester Jeug	Colville United

Western Cape

Season	Winner	Runner-Up
1998–99
1999–00
2000–01	Vasco da Gama	Juventus
2001–02	Juventus	Rygersdal Aces
2002–03	Vasco da Gama	Clyde Pinelands
2003–04
2004–05
2005–06
2006–07	Hanover Park
2007–08		Soweto Panthers F.C.
2008–09	Steenberg United
2009–10	Mitchells Plain United	Milano United F.C.
2010–11	Chippa United	Milano United F.C.
2011–12	Milano United F.C.
2012-13	Cape Town All Stars
2013-14	Cape Town All Stars
2014-15	Glendene United
2015–16	Steenberg United FC	Glendene United FC

Coastal Stream / Inland Stream

Free State belonged to the Inland Stream in 1998-2008,
but was transferred to the Coastal Stream for subsequent seasons.

Free State

Season	Winner	Runner-Up
1998–99
1999–00
2000–01	Welkom Stars	Maholosiane
2001–02	Maholosiane	Roses United
2002–03	Roses United	Dikoena
2003–04
2004–05
2005–06
2006–07	African Warriors
2007–08	Carara Kicks F.C.	Mafube United F.C.
2008–09	United
2009–10	Roses United	Maluti Fet College
2010–11	Roses United	Botshabelo
2011–12	Roses United
2012-13	Maluti FET College
2013–14	Sibanye Golden Stars
2014–15	Roses United
2015–16	Manco Milano

Inland Stream

Gauteng

Season	Winner	Runner-Up
1998–99
1999–00
2000–01	Mamelodi Juventus	Mandel Kings
2001–02	Ennerdale Arcadia	BK Callies
2002–03	Arcadia Shepherds	Luso Africa
2003–04
2004–05	P.J Stars
2005–06	Yebo Yes United
2006–07	Yebo Yes United
2007–08	M Tigers
2008–09	Lusitano
2009–10	FC AK	M Tigers
2010–11	Highlands Park	Blackpool
2011–12	The Vardos F.C.
2012–13	The Vardos FC
2013–14	Highlands Park
2014–15	African All Stars
2015–16	JDR Stars FC

Limpopo

Season	Winner	Runner-Up
1998–99
1999–00
2000–01	Sisterpark	Winnerspark
2001–02	Winnerspark	Gesane Arsenal
2002–03	Winnerspark	Gesane Arsenal
2003–04
2004–05
2005–06
2006–07	Mokopane
2007–08	Classic F.C.	The Dolphins F.C.
2008–09	Peace Lovers
2009–10	Peace Lovers	Limpopom United
2010–11	Baroka F.C.	Winners Park
2011–12	Baroka F.C.
2012–13	Baroka F.C.
2013–14	Magezi F.C.
2014-15	Magezi F.C
2015–16	Magezi FC	The Dolphins

Mpumalanga

Season	Winner	Runner-Up
1998–99
1999–00
2000–01	Green Nation	Ferrometals
2001–02	People's Bank Spurs	Sporting
2002–03	Sporting	Home Defenders
2003–04
2004–05	Witbank Spurs
2005–06
2006–07	MP Black Aces
2007–08	Barberton City Stars F.C.	Batau Killers F.C.
2008–09	Batau
2009–10	Mologadi	Barberton City Stars
2010–11	Sivutsa Stars	Mighty Mega Force
2011–12	Batau F.C.
2012–13
2013–14
2014–15
2015–16	Appolo XI FC	Acornbush United FC

North west

Season	Winner	Runner-Up
1998–99
1999–00
2000–01	Mafikeng City	Western Aces
2001–02	Leicester City	Western Aces
2002–03	Kanana Stars	Anderlecht
2003–04
2004–05
2005–06	Ga-Rankuwa United
2006–07	Madibogopan Blizzards
2007–08	City of Matlosane F.C.	Mothupi Birds F.C.
2008–09	RNB 54
2009–10	Ga-Rankuwa United	City of Matlosana United
2010–11	Ga-Rankuwa United	North West Shining Stars
2011–12	Soshanguve Sunshine
2012–13
2013–14	North West Shining Stars
2014–15	North West Shining Stars
2015–16	Orbit College FC

Promoted teams

In the seasons from 1998–2003, the four best teams from the Vodacom League -determined by annual playoffs among the winners and runners-up of the 9 provinces in South Africa- won promotion for the National First Division. The playoff system divided the teams into an Inland stream and Coastal Stream, where the best two teams from each stream won promotion.

In the seasons after 2003, the number of annually promoted teams decreased to 2. The concept of the playoff system however remained the same, in regards of dividing the teams into a Coastal Stream and Inland Stream, but now of course only to reward the winner of both streams with promotion. Both promoted teams will then finally also meet to play the overall final, where the overall league championship trophy is at stake.

The list below show all the promoted teams, since 1998.

Promoted Teams
Season	Inland Stream	Coastal Stream
1998–99	Arcadia Shepherds Mapate Silver Stars	Premier United Blackburn Rovers
1999–00	Ledwaba Power Stars Alexandra United	Maritzburg City Basotho Tigers
2000–01	Welkom Stars Mamelodi Juventus	William Prescod PE Technikon
2001–02	Maholosiane Peoples Bank Spurs	Moja United Juventus (Western Cape)
2002–03	Winners Park FC Sporting	Vasco da Gama Blackburn Rovers
Promoted Teams
Season	Winner	Runner-up
2003–04	Pretoria University	Louisvale Pirates
2004–05	Witbank Spurs	PJ Stars Kings
2005–06	OR Tambo DC	Garankuwa United
2006–07	African Warriors	Hanover Park
2007–08	Vasco da Gama	Carara Kicks
2008–09	United	Batau
2009–10	FC AK	Blackburn Rovers
2010–11	Chippa United	Sivutsa Stars
2011–12	Roses United F.C.	Milano United F.C.
2012–13	Baroka FC	Maluti FET College
2013–14	Cape Town All Stars	Highlands Park
2014–15	Mbombela United	Mthatha Bucks
2015–16	Kings United	Magezi F.C

Previous logos

Used until April 2011
Used between April 2011 and April 2012

References

↑ SAFA. "Rules and Regulations" (PDF). Retrieved 7 July 2011.
↑ "Motsepe Foundation sponsor Second Division". SuperSport. 3 March 2014. Retrieved 3 March 2014.

External links

South Africa Football Association: Database with logs and results

SAFA Second Division seasons
1998–99 1999–00 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 2004–05 2005–06 2006–07 2007–08 2008–09 2009–10 2010–11 2011–12 2012–13 2013–14 2014–15 2015–16 2016–17

Seasons in South African soccer
Premiership teams (2016–17)	Ajax Cape Town Baroka Bidvest Wits Bloemfontein Celtic Cape Town City Chippa United Free State Stars Golden Arrows Highlands Park Kaizer Chiefs Mamelodi Sundowns Maritzburg United Pirates Platinum Stars Polokwane City SuperSport United
First Division teams (2016–17)	AmaZulu Black Leopards Cape Town All Stars FC Cape Town Jomo Cosmos Milano United Magesi Mbombela United Mthatha Bucks Real Kings Royal Eagles Santos Stellenbosch Thanda Royal Zulu University of Pretoria Witbank Spurs
Premier Soccer League	1996–97 1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 2004–05 2005–06 2006–07 2007–08 2008–09 2009–10 2010–11 2011–12 2012–13 2013–14 2014–15 2015–16 2016–17
National First Division	1996–97 1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 2004–05 2005–06 2006–07 2007–08 2008–09 2009–10 2010–11 2011–12 2012–13 2013–14 2014–15 2015–16 2016–17
SAFA Second Division	1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 2004–05 2005–06 2006–07 2007–08 2008–09 2009–10 2010–11 2011–12 2012–13 2013–14 2014–15 2015–16 2016–17
Nedbank Cup	1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1998 1999 2000 2001 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2008–09 2009–10 2010–11 2011–12 2012–13 2013–14 2014–15 2015–16 2016–17
Telkom Knockout	1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016
MTN 8	1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 2000 2001 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016
Carling Black Label Cup	2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016
National Football League	1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978
Federation Professional League	1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990
NPSL (1971-1977)	1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977
NPSL (1978-1984)	1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984
NPSL (1985-1995)	1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1984 1992 1983 1994 1995
National Soccer League (NSL)	1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995
Telkom Charity Cup	1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010
Vodacom Challenge	1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2011

Soccer in South Africa

South African Football Association

National teams

Men	National team (Bafana Bafana) Olympic (U-23) (Amaglug-glug) U-20 (Amajita) U-17 (Amajimbos) development (Amabinneplaas)
Women	National team (Banyana Banyana) U-20 (Basetsana) U-17 (Bantwana)

League system

Men

Active	Premier Soccer League (ABSA Premiership National First Division) SAFA (Vodacom League Regional League U19 National League)
Defunct	NFL (1959-77) SASL (1961-67) FPL (1969-90) NPSL Castle League for blacks (1971-77) NPSL Castle League (1978-84) NPSL (1985-95) NSL Castle League (1985-95) NSL Second Division (1985-95)

Domestic cups

Men

Active	Nedbank Cup Telkom Knockout MTN 8 Carling Black Label Cup Vodacom Challenge Mangaung Cup
Defunct	NFL Cup (1959-77) SASF Cup (1961-85) United Bank International Soccer Festival (1993-94) Baymed Cup (2006) Telkom Charity Cup (1986-2010)

Awards

Footballer of the Year
Top scorers
SAFA Awards
PSL Awards

Lists

All-time Table
Champions
Clubs
Club name changes
International footballers
Foreign players
Regional Football Associations
Venues

Men's clubs
Women's clubs
Men's players
Women's players
Expatriate players
Managers
Referees
Venues
Seasons
Records

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