7 June 2026 – Hope FC from the Western Cape have been crowned as the 2025/26 ABC Motsepe League National Champions after defeating the North West University of Soccer Institute 5-3 on penalties in the final following a 1-1 stalemate in regulation time at the Mthatha Stadium on Sunday.
For their efforts, Hope FC walk away with the winners’ trophy and a whopping R1,250 million (one-million-two-hundred-and-fifty-thousand-rand), while NWU pocket R600 000 for being runners up. Both sides came into this match having secured promotion to the professional National First Division, the second tier of South African football.
Played in front of a packed crowd, the coastal side started on a high with a goal inside three minutes but were made to defend almost the entire match. In the second half Hope FC found themselves 10-men down after Ruzaig Gamildien was sent off to an earlier shower. The students got back into the match with an equalizer nine minutes from time, taking the tie to a penalty shootout. Xolani Masethi of NWU had his shot saved, while Jay Williams ensured victory for the Western Cape side.
“I thought we started well, dominated the game in the first half and scored an early goal. But we knew they would come at us and they did well. I just want to thank everyone from Mthatha for a fantastic week, the South African Football Association (SAFA) for organizing this event fantastically well and for my team as they really persevered. We had to dig very deep, and although it was not a good way to lose, I just want to wish NWU all the best in the NFD next season, they have a fantastic team,” Hope FC Head Coach Dylan Dean told SABC Sport.
NWU dominated the clash but ended up on the losing side. Their Head Coach Nkululeko Malgas says they will regroup and return stronger for the upcoming season.
“Football is unlike rugby, in rugby when you dominate you win the match, but in football you can dominate but end up on the losing side. We will now go and strategize and see how we come about in the new season. We need to reinforce here and there because these are babies, so we need to consolidate for the upcoming season,” said Malgas.
The final was attended by, among others, MEC for Sport in the Eastern Cape, Sibulele Ngongo, OR Tambo Executive Mayor, Mesuli Ngqondwana, his counterpart from the King Sabata Dalindyebo, Nyaniso Nelani, SAFA Competitions Chairperson Kwenzakwakhe Ngwenya, Trott Moloto who represented the Motsepe Foundation, SAFA Technical Director Molefi Ntseki as well as South Africa U20 Head Coach Raymond Mdaka.
NWU’s Khunganani Sigadi was named Player of the Tournament.
South African Football: The team failed to qualify for the 2021 AFCON.
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