23 June 2024 – Eastern Cape’s Highbury FC were crowned as 2024 ABC Motsepe National Playoffs Champions after beating Mpumalanga’s Kruger United 2-0 in the final to win the title in Upington, Northern Cape, on Sunday.
Highbury had to climb mountains to reach the playoffs and they did it courtesy of a brace from Mzoxolo Rafani, who also won the top goal scorer of the tournament award with a total of three goals. The Eastern Cape will be proud of what Highbury has achieved as the club was the last to qualify for the National Playoffs.
They played their qualifying match on Saturday, 15 June 2024 to be crowned Eastern Cape Champions. They then had to travel to Upington on the following day to be in time for the registration, ahead of their opening match the tournament. They shrugged this off to beat Mangaung United from Free State 1-0.
Highbury FC went on to top group B with one win and a draw to qualify for the semi-finals. They then beat Njampela FC of KwaZulu Natal 1-0 in the semi-finals to book a place in the finals.
Highbury FC will walk away with R1.25 million as Champions of the 2024 ABC Motsepe National Playoffs, they will have to use R250 000 to develop their region.
Kruger United will walk away with R600 000 as runner-up and will also have to use R250 000 for football development in their region as directed by the league sponsors, the Motsepe Foundation.
The Player of the Tournament award went to Kruger United’s Seun Ndlovu, while the top goalscorer of the tournament award went to Mzoxolo Rafani from Highbury FC.
The Assistant Referee of the Tournament award went to Maneo Tau while Tshidiso Mzwanazi walk away with the Referee of the Tournament award.
