Limpopo’s Magesi and Kings United of KwaZulu-Natal will contest Sunday’s ABC Motsepe national playoffs final after topping their respective Groups here in Bloemfontein.
United won Group A following a 2-1 win over Tornado FC while Magesi topped Group B having beaten JDR Stars 2-1 and both will be campaigning in the National First Division (NFD) next season.
One of these two sides (Magesi and Kings United) will walk away with a whopping R1 million cheque prize plus a glittering trophy and a place into the professional paid ranks of NFD on Sunday.
In Friday, 17 June 2016’s matches, Magesi who went into the match needing only a draw to top Group B, easily beat JDR Stars 2-1 through goals by Ditlhoriso Mphyane and Bruce Maphusha while Stars got the consolation goal from Vusumuzi Ncube.
Although Stars from Gauteng tried to come back into the match, they were easily gunned down by a more composed Magesi who finished the qualifying campaign on 9 points having won all their three games.
Meanwhile, Kings United were worthy winners in Group A despite concerted efforts by Steenberg United of Western Cape who remained in contention right to the end.
In the opening Group A matches played simultaneously in Botshabelo and Mangaung respectively, Western Cape’s Steenberg United who were on 6 points kept their hopes alive when they raced to a 2-0 lead in the first half against Orbit College of the North West.
Steenberg’s goals came through Robin Rhodes and Moegamat Stellenboom but when news filtered through that Kings United had scored a late first half goal which took their points tally to 10, it was back to the drawing board for the Cape side as this point, the Durban side were ahead on points.
But Steenberg were back in contention again after news came through midway through the second half that Tornado had equalised. But again Kings United had the last laugh after sneaking in a last gasp winner to emerge 2-1 winners and a ticket to Sunday’s final and a place in the National First Division (NFD).
Kings’ goals came through Mmiseni Ndlovu and Thobani Kunene while Ndibulele Matikinca scored Tornado’s only goal.
The final will take place at Dr P Molemela Stadium on Sunday and kicks off at 15h00.
STREAM A FINAL LOG 2016
| Pos | Teams | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kings United | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 9 | 6 | 3 | 10 |
| 2 | Steenberg United | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 10 | 4 | 6 | 9 |
| 3 | Apollo X1 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 7 | -3 | 5 |
| 4 | Orbit College | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 4 | -3 | 3 |
| 5 | Tornado | 4 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 3 | -1 | 1 |
STREAM B FINAL LOG 2016
| Pos | Teams | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kings United | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 9 | 6 | 3 | 10 |
| 1 | Magesi | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 9 |
| 2 | Manco Milano | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 4 |
| 3 | JDR Stars | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 4 | -1 | 3 |
| 4 | Morester Jeug | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 7 | -5 | 1 |
Results:
| Monday: 13/06/2016 | ||||
| Orbit College | 0 | vs | 1 | Apollox1 |
| Steenburg United | 1 | vs | 0 | Tonado |
| Tuesday: 14/06/2016 | ||||
| Apollo X1 | 1 | vs | 1 | Tornado |
| Steenburg United | 3 | vs | 4 | Kings United |
| Wednesday:15/06/2016 | ||||
| Morester Jeug | 0 | vs | 4 | Magesi |
| Manco Milano | 1 | vs | 0 | JDR Stars |
| Tornado | 0 | vs | 1 | Orbit College |
| Kings United | 2 | vs | 2 | Apollo x1 |
| Thursday: 16/06/2016 | ||||
| Morester Jeug | 1 | vs | 2 | JDR Stars |
| Manco Milano | 0 | vs | 1 | Magesi |
| Apollo x1 | 0 | vs | 4 | Steenburg United |
| Friday: 17/06/2016 | ||||
| Orbit College | 0 | vs | 2 | Steenburg United |
| Kings United | 2 | vs | 1 | Tornado |
| Magesi | 2 | vs | 1 | JDR Stars |
| Manco Milano | 1 | vs | 1 | Morester Jeug |