Giant-Killers Stun Cape Town City As 2026/27 Motsepe Foundation Championship Kicks Off

The 2026/27 Motsepe Foundation Championship got underway this weekend, with Magesi FC starting their campaign with a victory while Cape Town City suffered defeat in their opening match of the season.

Cape Town City began their second season in the first division with a 2-1 away defeat to Real Native on Friday. In another match played in Limpopo on the same day, Venda FC and Lerumo Lions played to a 1-1 draw.

On Saturday, Magesi, who made PSL history by winning the Carling Knockout in 2024 during their first season in the Betway Premiership, began their first-division campaign with a 1-0 victory over Midlands Wanderers.

Dikwena Tsa Meetse spent two seasons in South African top-flight football before being relegated at the end of last season.

Other matches also took place on Saturday, with Orbit College, who played in the Betway Premiership for the first time last season before being relegated, suffering a 1-0 defeat to Leicesterford Ford City.

Highbury travelled from the Eastern Cape to Mpumalanga and returned home with all three points after beating The Bees 2-1.

Gomora United and Hungry Lions shared the spoils after playing to a 2-2 draw, while the newly promoted Hope FC and North-West University also began their first professional football campaigns without suffering defeats.

The 2026 ABC Motsepe League national playoff champions, Hope FC, beat the University of Pretoria 1-0, while the national playoff runners-up, North-West University, played to a 1-1 draw at home against Upington City.

The South African first division continues next weekend, with three matches scheduled for Friday before the remaining five fixtures are played on Saturday.