Reward awaits in Motsepe League
Barberton City Stars will host Lynnville All Stars in an ABC Motsepe League fixture at the Barberton Prison sport grounds on Saturday.
They aim to secure a much-needed victory to avoid being relegated after this past weekend’s 1-3 defeat to Apollo XI.
No team in the top six, Mpumalanga stream, can be guaranteed a place for next season. It has not been confirmed how many teams will be relegated at the end of this season.
Mining mogul, Patrice Motsepe is the new sponsor of the ABC Motsepe League, previously known as the South
African Football Association’s second division.
Unconfirmed reports are that seven teams will be relegated from the Mpumalanga stream, eight in Limpopo and eight in Gauteng. Eight of the remaining ones from Mpumalanga and Limpopo will be joined by four from Gauteng and form 20 teams in the ABC Motsepe League Inland Stream A.
Inland Stream B will comprise eight North West teams, eight from the Free State and four from Gauteng.
The Coastal Stream will comprise teams of KwaZulu-Natal, Eastern Cape, Western Cape and Northern Cape.
Mabobo Mhlanga, Stars’ spokesman said their goal was to finish at the top of the league table.
“We are not sure how many teams will be relegated. It is better to collect as many points as we can.”
Stars are currently in fourth position with 43 points after 24 games and stand a good chance of finishing among the top six. In fifth are Young Highlanders with 34 after 24 games and in sixth Amazayoni with 33 after 21 games.
The overall winner of the ABC Motsepe League will receive R1 million of which R800 000 will go to the club and R200 000 to aid youth development. The runners-up will receive R500 000.
The winner of the Kaizer Motaung Player of the Year Award will receive R150 000 and the players’ player of the year R100 000.
A third prize will be the Dr Irvin Role-Model Chairman of the Year Award and the winner will be rewarded with R100 000.
The sponsorship will last five years with a value of R40 million.
