LIMPOPO – Mpheni Home Defenders delivered a dominant performance on Saturday, thrashing Lebash Academy 6-0 in a one-sided match played at their home ground in Mpheni village in the Vhembe district.

Dominant display at home

The home side controlled the match from the first whistle, putting Lebash Academy under constant pressure and converting their chances with clinical finishing.

Mpheni’s attacking line proved too strong for the visitors, who struggled to contain the relentless waves of attacks throughout the game.

By halftime, Mpheni had already established a comfortable lead with four goals in its pocket, leaving Lebash Academy with the difficult task of mounting a comeback in the second half.

Instead, the hosts continued to dominate possession and added two more goals to seal an emphatic victory in front of their home supporters, who had braved the rain to watch their team play.

Crowned league champions

The result further strengthens Mpheni Home Defenders’ position at the top of the ABC Motsepe League log, with 40 points, compared to Tzaneen United’s 32 points.

With only two matches remaining before the end of the season, the victory effectively secures their place at the summit, as there are not enough matches left for Tzaneen United to surpass the 40-point mark.

Even if Mpheni were to forfeit their remaining two matches and Tzaneen United won both of theirs, the gap would still be impossible to close.

This means Mpheni are technically the champions of the 2025/26 season, pending only official confirmation. Their focus will now shift to the promotional play-offs, which will determine whether they advance to the next stage or not.

Breaking the play-off curse

Meanwhile, if indeed they are confirmed winners, the upcoming play-offs will present a familiar challenge for the team.

Over the past five years, Mpheni have emerged as ABC Motsepe Stream-A league winners on four occasions, but lost in the promotional play-offs each time. This season, the coach and his technical team will need to devise a winning strategy to finally break the play-off curse.

Draws across the league

Other results from the weekend included Phalaborwa United playing to a 1-1 draw against Vondwe XI Bullets, while White Vultures and Mukondeni Young Chiefs also finished 1-1.

Nkowankowa Continental, meanwhile, continued to drop points after playing out a goalless 0-0 draw with Musina United.

Relegation battle heats up

Playing at home, the Continentals were expected to have the upper hand and secure a victory, but that did not materialise.

If their winless run continues, Nkowankowa Continental risk becoming the first team in the ABC Motsepe league to suffer relegation without registering a single win all season.

Meanwhile, other teams facing possible relegation include Tshakhuma TM, who sit on 11 points, and Lebash Academy, who have 10 points.

According to SAFA regulations, any team that fails to reach the 18-point threshold is automatically relegated.

With little chance of closing the gap before the season ends, it can now be confirmed that both sides are mathematically out.