The 2026/27 Motsepe Foundation Championship produced another entertaining round of action between 18 and 20 September, with Matchday 5 delivering crucial results at both ends of the league standings.
While Magesi FC maintained their position at the top despite dropping their first points of the campaign, several teams strengthened their positions with important victories. The weekend also produced dramatic late goals, hard-fought draws and a six-goal thriller in Upington.
Matchday 5 Results
Friday, 18 September
Highbury FC 0–0 Gomora United
Highbury FC and Gomora United could not be separated after a closely contested encounter that ended goalless. Both sides had to settle for a point from a match in which defensive organisation took centre stage.
Real Native 2–0 Venda FC
Real Native secured an important 2–0 victory over Venda FC. Orlando Pirates loanee Lungelo Dondolo opened the scoring from the penalty spot before Leletu Skelem added a second goal to complete a convincing win for the hosts.
Saturday, 19 September
Hope FC 1–0 Orbit College
Hope FC returned to winning ways in dramatic fashion after Manelisi Ralasi scored a 93rd-minute winner. The late strike secured all three points in a tightly contested encounter.
Leicesterford City 1–0 Midlands Wanderers
Sipho Zwane proved to be the difference between the two sides, scoring in the 29th minute to give Leicesterford City a narrow victory. The result strengthened their position in the upper half of the standings.
North-West University 0–0 Cape Town City
North-West University produced a disciplined defensive display to hold Cape Town City to a goalless draw. The newly promoted side earned another valuable point against one of the division’s more established teams.
The Bees FC 1–0 Lerumo Lions
Mlungisi Skosana scored in the 25th minute as The Bees FC claimed their first victory of the 2026/27 campaign. The result provided a much-needed boost to their hopes of moving away from the bottom end of the standings.
Upington City 3–3 University of Pretoria
The weekend’s most entertaining encounter produced six goals as Upington City and the University of Pretoria shared the spoils in a 3–3 thriller at the Mxolisi Dicky Jacobs Stadium.
Upington City established an early two-goal advantage through Simphiwe Mambane and Palelo Mafuyeka.
University of Pretoria responded strongly, with Roy Keane Avontuur, Aphelele Teto and Leandro de Sousa finding the net as AmaTuks turned the game around.
Upington City refused to surrender, however, and Mambane completed his brace by converting an 80th-minute penalty to rescue a point for the home side.
Sunday, 20 September
Magesi FC 1–1 Hungry Lions FC
Magesi FC’s perfect start to the season came to an end as they were held to a 1–1 draw by Hungry Lions FC at Seshego Stadium.
The result was Magesi’s first dropped points of the campaign, but their unbeaten record remained intact and they stayed at the summit with 13 points from five matches.
Motsepe Foundation Championship Standings After Matchday 5
1. Magesi FC
Played: 5 | Won: 4 | Drawn: 1 | Lost: 0 | Points: 13
2. Casric Stars FC
Played: 5 | Won: 4 | Drawn: 0 | Lost: 1 | Points: 12
3. Leicesterford City FC
Played: 5 | Won: 3 | Drawn: 1 | Lost: 1 | Points: 10
4. Highbury FC
Played: 5 | Won: 3 | Drawn: 1 | Lost: 1 | Points: 10
5. Hope FC
Played: 5 | Won: 3 | Drawn: 0 | Lost: 2 | Points: 9
6. Cape Town City FC
Played: 5 | Won: 2 | Drawn: 2 | Lost: 1 | Points: 8
7. Upington City FC
Played: 5 | Won: 2 | Drawn: 2 | Lost: 1 | Points: 8
8. Gomora United FC
Played: 5 | Won: 2 | Drawn: 2 | Lost: 1 | Points: 8
9. Lerumo Lions FC
Played: 5 | Won: 2 | Drawn: 1 | Lost: 2 | Points: 7
10. Hungry Lions FC
Played: 5 | Won: 1 | Drawn: 3 | Lost: 1 | Points: 6
11. University of Pretoria FC
Played: 5 | Won: 1 | Drawn: 2 | Lost: 2 | Points: 5
12. Midlands Wanderers FC
Played: 5 | Won: 1 | Drawn: 1 | Lost: 3 | Points: 4
13. North-West University FC
Played: 5 | Won: 0 | Drawn: 3 | Lost: 2 | Points: 3
14. The Bees FC
Played: 5 | Won: 1 | Drawn: 0 | Lost: 4 | Points: 3
15. Orbit College FC
Played: 5 | Won: 0 | Drawn: 2 | Lost: 3 | Points: 2
16. Venda FC
Played: 5 | Won: 0 | Drawn: 1 | Lost: 4 | Points: 1
Magesi Hold the Summit
Magesi FC remain at the top of the standings after five rounds, with 13 points from a possible 15. Their unbeaten start has provided a strong foundation at the summit, although Casric Stars FC remain just one point behind.
Leicesterford City and Highbury FC are level on 10 points, while Hope FC occupy fifth place on nine points.
At the other end of the standings, Venda FC remain bottom with one point, while Orbit College have two points. North-West University and The Bees FC are both on three points.
With the competition still in its early stages, every point is becoming increasingly valuable as teams look to establish themselves in the promotion race and move away from danger at the bottom of the standings.
The Motsepe Foundation Championship now moves into another important block of fixtures, with the battle for position continuing across the league.
