26 March 2019 – The Northern Cape ABC Motsepe League 2018/19 season reached its conclusion on Saturday, 23 March, with Hungry Lions and United Rovers topping their respective streams and subsequently qualifying for the provincial playoffs where they will go toe-to-toe for a place in the national playoffs.
With a total area of 372 889 km², the Northern Cape is South Africa’s largest province and as a result, it’s league has been split into two groups of eight form two streams, A and B to reduce travelling and logistical costs.
Hungry Lions defended their Stream A title successfully a few week ago and came into their final game of the season on Saturday against Kakamas Juventus already as champions with 30 points. Juventus emerged 3-2 victorious and became the first team to score three goals against Hungry Lions in a league game this season.
Hungry Lions had a slow start to their season, winning only three games in the first round. But an almost perfect second round which saw Lions claim six consecutive victories catapulted them to the summit of the table, displacing Tornado who finished in second place after suffering three losses in their last three games.
United Rovers also finished their campaign with 30 points to their name on their way to claiming the Stream B title, two more than second-placed Colville United. Rovers defeated rock-bottom Maruping United 2-0 on the final day to complete an invincible season in which they won nine of their 12 league games and drew the other three.
Magareng Young Stars who represented the Northern Cape last season in the national playoffs after beating Hungry Lions with an aggregate score of 2-0 in the provincial playoffs finished fifth this season in Stream B with 12 points.
Lions and Rovers will meet for the first time ever in the Northern Cape ABC Motsepe League provincial playoffs final which is played as a two-legged tie.
The first leg will be played on April 6 at the Postmasburg Stadium and the return leg will be played a week later at De Aar.