The 2022–23 SAFA Second Division (known as the ABC Motsepe League for sponsorship reasons)[ 1] SAFA Second Division , the third tier for South African association football clubs, since its establishment in 1998. Due to the size of South Africa, the competition was split into nine divisions, one for each region. After the league stage of the regional competition was completed, the nine winning teams of each regional division entered the playoffs.[ 2]
Upington City from the Northern Cape , and Orbit College from the North West qualified for the final, with both earning promotion to the 2023–24 National First Division .[ 3] [ 4]
Upington City defeated Orbit College 3-1 in the final, with Upington City taking R 1.2 million in prize money, and Orbit R600,000.[ 5]
Pos
Team
Pld
W
D
L
GF
GA
GD
Pts
Qualification or relegation
1
Amavarara
16
10
4
2
28
11
+17
34
Playoffs
2
Sinenkani
16
8
5
3
28
15
+13
29
3
FC Ravens
16
7
7
2
21
10
+11
28
4
AmaMpondo United
16
7
3
6
20
18
+2
24
5
Highbury FC
16
5
8
3
23
21
+2
23
6
Matta Milan
16
5
3
8
14
21
−7
18
7
Thohoyandou FC
16
4
3
9
11
18
−7
15
8
Bush Bucks
16
3
6
7
15
23
−8
15
9
Champion FC
16
2
3
11
10
33
−23
9
Pos
Team
Pld
W
D
L
GF
GA
GD
Pts
Qualification or relegation
1
Peace Makers FC
16
9
4
3
26
13
+13
31
Playoffs
2
FC Siyanda
16
9
3
4
29
17
+12
30
3
Bush Pirates
16
9
3
4
26
14
+12
30
4
Amaxesibe FC
16
6
4
6
19
21
−2
22
5
Relatives FC
16
5
6
5
15
24
−9
21
6
Hanley FC
16
4
8
4
15
14
+1
20
7
Seven Stars
16
3
8
5
17
22
−5
17
8
Bizana Pondo Chiefs
16
3
4
9
14
21
−7
13
9
FC Jacaranda
16
1
6
9
16
31
−15
9
Pos
Team
Pld
W
D
L
GF
GA
GD
Pts
Qualification or relegation
1
Buffalo FC
16
10
3
3
25
19
+6
33
Playoffs
2
D General FC
16
8
8
0
28
10
+18
32
3
Dikwena United
16
8
6
2
28
12
+16
30
4
African Warriors
16
7
8
1
21
10
+11
29
5
Marquard Dynamos
16
5
8
3
21
18
+3
23
6
Clever Boys
16
3
5
8
13
19
−6
14
7
Bloemfontein Young Tigers
16
2
6
8
16
26
−10
12
8
FC Spartans
16
2
4
10
12
27
−15
10
9
Welkom Real Stars
16
1
4
11
10
33
−23
7
Pos
Team
Pld
W
D
L
GF
GA
GD
Pts
Qualification or relegation
1
FC Black Cross
16
13
1
2
39
18
+21
40
Playoffs
2
Mangaung Unite
16
11
3
2
35
11
+24
36
3
Mathaithai
16
7
3
6
26
24
+2
24
4
Sibanye Golden Stars
16
7
1
8
29
33
−4
22
5
Central University
16
6
3
7
23
19
+4
21
6
Peace Lovers
16
5
3
8
16
24
−8
18
7
Bloemfontein Eagles
16
5
2
9
17
21
−4
17
8
FC Matjhabeng
16
4
4
8
28
33
−5
16
9
Small Tigers
16
4
0
12
17
47
−30
12
Pos
Team
Pld
W
D
L
GF
GA
GD
Pts
Qualification or relegation
1
Dondol Stars
36
24
8
4
66
17
+49
80
Playoffs
2
Pele Pele
36
22
7
7
78
34
+44
73
3
Jomo Cosmos
36
22
7
7
54
28
+26
73
4
Soweto Super United
36
21
10
5
56
34
+22
73
5
Highlands Park
36
19
12
5
50
19
+31
69
6
African All Stars
36
21
5
10
55
38
+17
68
7
Hollywood Thunder
36
16
10
10
38
25
+13
58
8
M Tigers
36
15
12
9
65
40
+25
57
9
JBM FC
36
16
6
14
54
44
+10
54
10
Wits University
36
14
10
12
43
41
+2
52
11
Dube Continental
36
13
8
15
60
59
+1
47
12
ZK
36
11
7
18
39
54
−15
40
13
Ally's Tigers
36
10
10
16
34
52
−18
40
14
Senaoane Gunners
36
10
7
19
43
64
−21
37
15
Mamelodi Newcastle
36
10
5
21
32
59
−27
35
16
Tembisa Sports Centre
36
8
10
18
40
59
−19
34
17
Leruma United
36
9
6
21
39
58
−19
33
18
FC MaLions
36
3
7
26
20
68
−48
16
19
Casric F.C.
36
3
3
30
22
95
−73
12
Pos
Team
Pld
W
D
L
GF
GA
GD
Pts
Qualification or relegation
1
Milford FC
18
12
5
1
27
7
+20
41
Playoffs
2
Mkhumbane Classic
18
12
3
3
28
12
+16
39
3
Stone Breakers
18
11
4
3
34
19
+15
37
4
Summerfield Dynamos
18
11
4
3
25
10
+15
37
5
Njampela FC
18
10
3
5
34
19
+15
33
6
Muzi King Masters
18
5
5
8
14
19
−5
20
7
Happy Wanderers
18
3
6
9
14
25
−11
15
8
Mtuba All Stars
18
4
1
13
19
32
−13
13
9
Asande FC
18
2
4
12
12
35
−23
10
10
Mkwakhwini Classic
18
2
1
15
16
45
−29
7
Pos
Team
Pld
W
D
L
GF
GA
GD
Pts
Qualification or relegation
1
uMsinga United
18
11
5
2
31
10
+21
38
Playoffs
2
GWP Friends
18
11
5
2
28
9
+19
38
3
Mkhambathi FC
18
10
6
2
28
12
+16
36
4
Midland Wanderers
18
10
3
5
26
13
+13
33
5
Newcastle All Stars
18
8
7
3
24
20
+4
31
6
Ethekwini Coastal
18
7
1
10
19
22
−3
22
7
Umvoti
18
5
6
7
15
10
+5
21
8
Drakensberg FC
18
5
4
9
17
29
−12
19
9
Durban Pioneers
18
2
4
12
19
32
−13
10
10
XI Experience
18
0
1
17
8
58
−50
1
Pos
Team
Pld
W
D
L
GF
GA
GD
Pts
Qualification or relegation
1
Mpheni Home Defenders
16
15
0
1
30
5
+25
45
Playoffs
2
Giyani Happy Boys
16
11
3
2
32
18
+14
36
3
United Artists
16
6
4
6
11
11
0
22
4
Emmanuel FC
16
5
4
7
19
25
−6
19
5
Bellevue Village Winners Park
16
4
5
7
14
15
−1
17
6
Vondwe XI Bullets
16
4
5
7
18
22
−4
17
7
Munaca FC
16
4
4
8
16
17
−1
16
8
Musina United
16
4
4
8
14
23
−9
16
9
Mikhado FC
16
3
3
10
6
24
−18
12
Pos
Team
Pld
W
D
L
GF
GA
GD
Pts
Qualification or relegation
1
The Dolphins
16
13
1
2
28
6
+22
40
Playoffs
2
Ngwaabe City Motors FC
16
12
3
1
32
7
+25
39
3
Mighty F.C.
15
7
2
6
18
22
−4
23
4
Tzaneen United
16
6
3
7
23
23
0
21
5
Tubatse United
15
6
3
6
25
26
−1
21
6
Eleven Fast Tigers
15
5
3
7
17
23
−6
18
7
Ditlou F.C.
16
5
2
9
21
26
−5
17
8
PJ Stars
16
3
2
11
9
24
−15
11
9
Phinnet F.C.
13
2
1
10
9
25
−16
7
Pos
Team
Pld
W
D
L
GF
GA
GD
Pts
Qualification or relegation
1
Secunda M Stars
16
9
6
1
24
11
+13
33
Playoffs
2
Fernie Battalion FC
16
10
3
3
31
19
+12
33
3
Sivutsa Stars
16
8
4
4
24
16
+8
28
4
Middelburg United
16
8
4
4
23
15
+8
28
5
Mpumalanga Football Academy
16
6
3
7
20
20
0
21
6
Passion FC
16
4
6
6
21
26
−5
18
7
Kanyamazane All Stars
16
5
2
9
15
20
−5
17
8
Witbank Citylads
16
4
3
9
14
21
−7
15
9
Witbank Shepard
16
1
3
12
11
35
−24
6
Pos
Team
Pld
W
D
L
GF
GA
GD
Pts
Qualification or relegation
1
Mlambo Royal Cubs
15
10
2
3
29
14
+15
32
Playoffs
2
Barberton All Stars
16
9
2
5
35
21
+14
29
3
Gemsbok Classic
16
8
5
3
24
14
+10
29
4
Destiny College
15
7
5
3
20
13
+7
26
5
Sibange Young Bucks
15
6
5
4
20
14
+6
23
6
Bakoena Chiefs
16
4
6
6
24
27
−3
18
7
Phaphama FC
16
4
4
8
19
25
−6
16
8
Flymingo United FC
15
1
6
8
11
27
−16
9
9
Kabokweni Future Stars
12
1
1
10
5
32
−27
4
Pos
Team
Pld
W
D
L
GF
GA
GD
Pts
Qualification or relegation
1
Orbit College
15
13
1
1
40
6
+34
40
Playoffs
2
Som United
15
10
1
4
20
11
+9
31
3
Stilfontein Real Hearts
15
7
3
5
22
19
+3
24
4
Kgositlile FC
15
7
2
6
20
23
−3
23
5
Army Rockets FC
14
5
2
7
17
25
−8
17
6
Thaba Tshwane FC
15
3
5
7
19
31
−12
14
7
NW Signal
14
3
3
8
14
21
−7
12
8
NWU Tawana
14
3
0
11
16
30
−14
9
9
Rustenburg FC
5
1
1
3
4
6
−2
4
Pos
Team
Pld
W
D
L
GF
GA
GD
Pts
Qualification or relegation
1
North West University
15
11
2
2
38
12
+26
35
Playoffs
2
Bokone FC
15
10
1
4
31
18
+13
31
3
Black Eagles
15
8
5
2
21
11
+10
29
4
Mahika Champions
15
4
6
5
18
16
+2
18
5
FC Maberethe
15
4
6
5
15
23
−8
18
6
City Rovers
14
5
2
7
20
23
−3
17
7
TUT FC
15
4
3
8
17
19
−2
15
8
Taung Mega Stars
15
2
1
12
9
38
−29
7
9
Manong FC
7
2
0
5
3
12
−9
6
Pos
Team
Pld
W
D
L
GF
GA
GD
Pts
Qualification or relegation
1
Upington City
16
12
3
1
27
7
+20
39
Playoffs
2
Kakamas Juventus
16
11
2
3
28
11
+17
35
3
NC Professionals
16
8
2
6
26
13
+13
26
4
Tornado FC
16
8
1
7
27
22
+5
25
5
Benfica FC
16
7
1
8
15
18
−3
22
6
Olympics
16
5
5
6
24
28
−4
20
7
Kakamas Sundowns
16
6
2
8
21
25
−4
20
8
Olifantshoek Sporting
16
4
4
8
18
23
−5
16
9
Olifantshoek Young Stars
16
0
2
14
9
48
−39
2
Pos
Team
Pld
W
D
L
GF
GA
GD
Pts
Qualification or relegation
1
Diamond City
16
12
3
1
49
15
+34
39
Playoffs
2
Postmasburg FC
16
10
4
2
24
7
+17
34
3
United Rovers
16
8
2
6
33
32
+1
26
4
Jacksa Spears
16
7
4
5
32
28
+4
25
5
Tsantshabane Stars FC
16
7
3
6
25
16
+9
24
6
Warrenvale Stars
16
7
0
9
18
24
−6
21
7
Rasta Far Eagles
16
4
2
10
19
35
−16
14
8
Kuruman Scorpions
16
3
3
10
14
33
−19
12
9
Colville United
16
3
1
12
12
36
−24
10
Pos
Team
Pld
W
D
L
GF
GA
GD
Pts
Qualification or relegation
1
Zizwe United
16
11
2
3
25
12
+13
35
Playoffs
2
Hout Bay United
16
11
0
5
38
19
+19
33
3
Santos
16
7
4
5
25
20
+5
25
4
Grassy Park United
16
7
4
5
17
17
0
25
5
Maties FC
16
7
1
8
31
27
+4
22
6
City Kings
16
6
4
6
21
19
+2
22
7
Ikapa Sporting
16
5
3
8
16
26
−10
18
8
Cape Town Spurs Youth
16
4
3
9
17
29
−12
15
9
Mbekweni Sundowns
16
2
3
11
23
44
−21
9
Pos
Team
Pld
W
D
L
GF
GA
GD
Pts
Qualification or relegation
1
Young Bafana
16
10
4
2
31
17
+14
34
Playoffs
2
Ubuntu Cape Town
16
10
2
4
35
23
+12
32
3
Clarewood JPM FC
16
9
3
4
36
13
+23
30
4
FN Rangers
16
9
3
4
31
13
+18
30
5
Hanover Park FC
16
8
3
5
39
19
+20
27
6
Batalion FC
16
7
4
5
18
23
−5
25
7
Ukhanya United
16
2
4
10
12
33
−21
10
8
Royal Blues
16
2
3
11
13
38
−25
9
9
Wanderers FC
16
1
2
13
10
46
−36
5
Western Cape winners Young Bafana were pulled from the playoffs a week before they started after losing an arbitration case lodged by rivals Zizwe United regarding playing with unregistered players. However, hours before kickoff, the ruling was set aside by the Gauteng High Court and Young Bafana entered the playoffs.[ 6]
The semifinal between hosts Umsinga United and Orbit College at Harry Gwala Stadium was marred by violence. Orbit College won 1–0, and at the end of the match, fans invaded the pitch, gunshots were fired, while Umsinga United's goalkeeper coach Gezani Zondi was struck on the head and needed medical attention.[ 7] [ 8] [ 9]
Upington City beat Mpheni Home Defenders of Limpopo 3–2 on penalties after a 1–1 draw in the first semi-final of the day, while Orbit College broke many hearts in a crowded Harry Gwala Stadium when they beat local side Umsinga United 1–0 in the second semi-final.
