On Saturday, June 24, 2023, the Men’s Regional Provincial Play-offs were held in Middelburg.
Themba Senamela Stadium in Mhluzi hosted some of the games, while Kies Taljaard Stadium hosted
others. The eventual champions of both streams will advance to the ABC Motsepe League next
season.

Football enthusiasts were fed with football all day, and there were occasionally flashes of greatness.
The day began with a match between Phezulu FC from the Gert Sibande FA and the host team
Madubaduba FC, who represented the SAFA Nkangala Region. After drawing first blood,
Madubaduba FC was defeated by a score of two to one. The first half was when the three goals were
all scored. The strikers for Madubaduba FC suffered from missing two easy opportunities in the
game’s final period. With four goals, they may have easily won the match.

Rest a little if you anticipated Phezulu FC being fatigued in their second game. They competed
closely with Cunningmore United. Although Cunningmore ‘B’ was expected to win easily from the
outset, they had to work hard for their narrow 1-0 victory. Late in the game, as a tie was about to
happen, the goal was scored. Roggert Afftonate Nyundu, a former PSL player wearing number 4,
stood out for the team. He played for many different teams during the course of his career, including
Bloemfontein Celtic, Polokwane City, Amazulu, Black Leopards, and a few others. His background
became relevant to both of their contests.

Cunningmore FC had to either beat Madubaduba FC in the last game of the day in order to qualify
for the upper league but they rather made it difficult for themselves when they allowed the home
team to steal a goal in the second half to win the game. All three teams were sitting on 3 points and
Mathematics had to be used to determine who got promoted. It was announced by SAFA on
Monday that Phezulu FC has been promoted as per the section 32 technical rules.
Cunningmore’s supporters came in their numbers. You’d swear they were the home team. They
were so cheerful.

“First of all, we’d like thank our supporters for coming in their numbers. It was nice to realize that
everybody from eHlanzeni region were actually behind us. The stadium was filled up by our
supporters. We are proud of the boys. They really did well under the circumstances,” said Comfrey
Malumane, an official at Cunningmore FC.

Bushbuckridge News also got an opportunity to speak to the honourable minister of Justice
Correctional Service, Ronald Lamola. He was one of the supporters who graced the venue.
“I came here to support soccer. Cunningmore FC is my home team. It’s through sport and other
recreational activities that we’ll win the hearts of our people, especially youngsters. We need to
keep them occupied and that will take them off the streets where they’re easy to do bad things, like
the abuse of alcohol and the use of drugs,” said Minister Lamola.
Minister Lamola went on to say: “As leaders we should show up to events like this when we can. We
must support our people so that they can be inspired. Who knows, maybe we have future
international players in this very field of play today? Maybe we have future leaders around the
stadium. Let’s build the future together,” he said.

Despite everything, the day went well and soccer was the eventual winner on the day.