Buchanan’s Hope FC Complete Miraculous Debut Season With Dramatic National Title Win!
Western Cape side Hope FC were crowned champions of the ABC Motsepe League National Playoffs after defeating North-West University (NWU) 5-3 on penalties following a 1-1 draw at Mthatha Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
Hope became only the second team from the Western Cape to win the national playoffs. The first and only other side from the province to achieve the feat was Cape Town All Stars in the 2013/14 season, when they defeated Highlands Park 5-4 on penalties after a goalless draw.
Both Hope and NWU had already secured promotion to the Motsepe Foundation Championship by reaching the final. They will replace Black Leopards and Baroka FC, who were relegated from the division at the end of last season.
The playoffs, which began last Tuesday, featured nine provincial champions from across South Africa competing for promotion to the country’s second tier.
On their way to the final, Hope topped Group B with four points after defeating Eastern Cape side FC Ravens and drawing 1-1 with Free State outfit Mangaung United. They then booked their place in the final with a convincing 4-1 victory over Northern Cape side NC Professionals in the semi-finals.
NWU also finished top of Group A with four points. The North West side opened with a goalless draw against Mpumalanga’s Luthuli Brigades before defeating Gauteng-based La Masia 3-2. They secured their place in the final by overcoming KwaZulu-Natal’s Mkhambathi in the semi-finals.
Hope entered the tournament as one of the favourites due to the wealth of experience within their squad.
Their team includes former professionals such as Deane Solomons, who has been playing abroad since 2017 after leaving the Ajax Cape Town academy to join Ajax Amsterdam in the Netherlands. The squad also features Clayton Daniels, Ruzaigh Gamildien and Craig Martin, all of whom made their names at clubs such as SuperSport United, Moroka Swallows and Orlando Pirates.
The club’s head coach, Dylan Deane, also brings valuable experience, having previously coached Cape Town All Stars and Cape Town Spurs in the Motsepe Foundation Championship. Adding to the remarkable story, Hope chairman Keagan Buchanan is a former Kaizer Chiefs midfielder. Remarkably, this was also Hope’s first season in the ABC Motsepe League.
The final got off to a dream start for Hope as Solomons opened the scoring in the very first minute. The defender headed home from inside the six-yard box, directing the ball into the top-left corner from a well-delivered corner by Gamildien.
Despite conceding early, NWU responded positively and controlled large spells of the game. They nearly found an equaliser in the 25th minute when Khumoetsile Van Schalkwyk unleashed a left-footed effort from outside the penalty area, but his shot sailed over the crossbar.
Just before half-time, NWU thought they had levelled matters through Matswetlane Ntsala, who finished from close range inside the six-yard box. However, the assistant referee ruled the goal out for offside.
NWU started the second half brightly and continued to create chances but struggled to convert them in the final third. Their pressure eventually resulted in Hope being reduced to 10 men in the 60th minute when Gamildien received a second yellow card for a foul on Xolani Masethi. However, NWU failed to capitalise on the resulting free-kick.
The North West side maintained their attacking momentum and were finally rewarded in the 80th minute. Philani Masondo rose highest to head home from near the penalty spot after Hope goalkeeper Leathan Croats came off his line in an attempt to deal with an attacking move, making it 1-1.
The closing stages were fiercely contested, with both teams creating opportunities in search of a winner. However, neither side could find the decisive goal as the match ended 1-1 after regulation time.
The championship was ultimately decided by a penalty shootout, where Hope held their nerve to secure a 5-3 victory and lift the ABC Motsepe League National Playoffs trophy.
