10 June 2019 – After another tough and exciting ABC Motsepe League season, the two clubs to represent their respective provinces in the National First Division have finally been confirmed following an exciting Play Off weekend in Cape Town.
JDR Stars (Gauteng) and Steenberg United (Western Cape) will play in the NFD after seeing off stiff competition from the champions of the rest of the country. For Cape Town, this was great news considering the fact that Ubuntu Cape Town were relegated from the NFD.
JDR in the meantime become the first Gauteng based club to gain promotion to the NFD in a while. They replaced Witbank Spurs who also went down after a disastrous season in the country’s second division.
Cape Town-based Steenberg scored a last-minute winner against North West side Casric FC via Athini Jodwana in a tightly contested semi final encounter which saw them secure a place in the NFD and Play Offs final.
South Africa – Cape Town – 08 June 2019 Steenberg United FC Damian Basadien fighting for the ball against JDR FC Chokoe Malesela
The side has a number of players with past PSL or NFD experience, including Abduraghmaan White, Craig Joemath, Lyle Peters, Buyani Sali and Welcome Qalanto.
Pretoria-based JDR Stars had less difficulties in the semi finals after cruising past Northern Cape’s Hungry Lion by 3-0 thanks to goals by Sello Letoane and Nkosana More plus an unfortunate own goal by Lions.
The final between the Gauteng and Western Cape champions was not an easy affair for either side. While both clubs had their NFD ticket safely secured, it was the R1 Million cheque and new ABC Motsepe League trophy that was up for the taking.
It was however the Gauteng side who clinched the overall title with a narrow 1-0 victory to put the cherry on top of their NFD qualification.
JDR Stars player, Makhanya Moeketsi won the best player of the the ABC Motsepe Leugue National championship.