The playoffs came after the two teams emerged as the 2022/23 Stream-A and B champions in the GGLFA league. The two leagues prepare local teams for promotion to the regional league, from where teams are further promoted to the ABC Motsepe league if they win in the provincial playoffs where all the winning teams from all the districts in the province meet to take part in the playoffs.

The playoffs on Saturday were meant to find one team that would proceed to the Mopani Men’s Regional league. Only the first and the second runner-up in each stream took part in the playoffs. The third position went to Riverside Aces after humiliating Hlaneki Warriors 5-0. Also on Saturday, Nkowankowa Continental was promoted to the Limpopo ABC Motsepe league after their triumph in the provincial playoffs held at Nkowankowa Stadium.

Also read: Power United escaped defeat with ruffled feathers

This is seen as a huge boost for local football as it will increase the representation of the Mopani district in the league. The head of administration in the GGLFA, Nlahla Roderick Rikhotso, congratulated Nkowankowa Continental FC for their achievement, saying this will give Mopani and the Greater Tzaneen Local Football Association more chances to have a local team in the PSL.

“The last time Mopani had a premier league team in the PSL was more than a decade ago before Dynamos FC was sold to Vincent Sokhela of Amazulu FC. Since then, we have never had a club to represent us in the PSL. “It is good to know that Nkowankowa Continental has joined the likes of Tzaneen United, Giyani Happy Boys, Emmanuel FC, and Winnerspark FC in the ABC Motsepe league because this effectively makes our teams the dominating force in the league.”