Hawks FC have secured promotion to the SAFA Regional League after clinching the Midrand Promotional League (MPL) title, with coach Michael Madondo declaring that his side is aiming to compete at the next level, rather than merely make up the numbers.

They were crowned champions at Rabie Ridge Stadium on June 7, after a title race that went down to the final day of the 2025/26 season.

Hawks entered the last round with rivals Midrand United hot on their heels, trailing by just three points. However, Madondo’s men held their nerve and sealed the championship with a hard-fought 2–1 victory after coming from behind against United.

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The champions finished the campaign on 52 points from 20 matches, recording 16 wins, one draw, and two defeats. They also boasted the league’s most potent attack and one of its strongest defences, scoring 62 goals while conceding only 11.

Hawks set the pace from the opening weeks of the season and remained at the summit throughout the campaign, although Midrand United consistently applied pressure in what became one of the closest title races in recent years. Reflecting on the achievement, Madondo praised his players for their consistency and resilience throughout the season.

“I am happy. I feel overwhelmed. It has been a long journey. We started [the season] very well, and we continued [with that strong start].

“It is not easy to be number one from game one to game 20. There were a lot of difficulties, but we managed to bounce back after our loss to Pothos FC. We showed resilience as a team, [and] we showed character.

We now have a diploma in MLFA, for three years. It has been a long journey. I think we deserve it. Even the Midrand [United] coach can attest that we deserve it. We played very well, and we deserve to be in the region.”

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The SAFA Regional League, officially known as the Hollywoodbets Regional League, occupies the fourth tier of South African football. It serves as the highest level of amateur and semi-professional football in the country and acts as a stepping stone to the professional ranks.

With tougher competition awaiting, Madondo believes the club has the quality to compete, but acknowledges that financial backing will be crucial.

“We are going there to compete. We are not going to add numbers. We’ve got [squad] depth, so we are going to add two, three, or four players to strengthen our squad.

“As you can see, we got a good squad of U21s, so they will gel with the rest of the guys that we have. We are always looking for sponsors.

There is something in the pipeline, but we continue to appeal to the greater community to help us. In this regard [going to the regional league] we will need help because the region is not pap and vleis. We need financial power to compete.”

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Despite falling short, Midrand United pushed the title race to the final whistle of the season. United ended second on 46 points after registering 14 wins, four draws, and two losses. United coach Morgan Moodley admitted that dropped points from drawn matches ultimately cost his side the championship.

“We had the league in our hands, and it’s gone. We lost it by the draws that we had, and that’s what actually messed us up, but our boys did well.

They fought right to the last game. We lost the league by six points, and the boys tried their best. Unfortunately, I think for us it goes back to the drawing board, and where we need to actually fix. There are many things, but I’m just going to say we need to fix.”

The title celebrations saw Hawks receive the league trophy, medals, and prize money from Midrand Local Football Association deputy chairperson Robert Lebea and secretary-general Sydwell Ramakokovhu.

With promotion secured and ambitions firmly set on competing among the region’s best, Hawks FC will now turn their attention to preparing for a challenging new chapter in the SAFA Regional League.

Grab a copy of Midrand Reporter to get insight into how the final matchup unfolded.

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