Regional Title Eludes Black Cats as Relegation Looms

The Safa Eden league has witnessed a disappointing season for two George-based teams, Raul Stars FC and Young Pirates FC. These struggling sides have failed to secure any positive points throughout their league campaign, finding themselves rooted at the bottom of the Regional League table.

Meanwhile, the formidable Lawaaikamp giants, Black Cats Football Club, will have to endure another season in the regional league after falling short of clinching the Safa Eden Regional Men’s League title earlier this month.

Known affectionately as Ikati Emnyama, Black Cats finished the 2022/23 season in second place on the Regional League table. Their performance encompassed 30 matches, resulting in 17 victories, 7 draws, and 6 defeats. The team scored 67 goals, conceded 33 goals, and accumulated a total of 58 points throughout the season.

Initially entering the 2022/23 season with enthusiasm after spending a year in the Western Cape ABC Motsepe Provincial League, the Lawaaikamp-based side encountered significant challenges, ultimately finding themselves in a precarious position. Consequently, they were relegated to the lower division, the Safa Eden Regional League.

In their pursuit of the Safa Eden title, the Cats faltered in their last fixtures of the season, failing to secure positive results. This allowed Oriented Birds, a Plettenberg Bay outfit, to comfortably claim the top spot on the leaderboard.

The soaring Birds soared as the newly crowned Safa Eden Champions, impressively triumphing in 26 league games and drawing in four, securing the Regional League title with an unbeaten record.

Joining Raul Stars FC and Young Pirates FC as relegation contenders in the Safa Eden league, the two George-based teams have struggled to gather any positive points during their campaign, placing them at the bottom of the Regional League table.

The top-performing team will represent the Eden region in the upcoming third division playoffs for the Western Cape ABC Motsepe Provincial League during the 2023/24 season.

The Western Cape Regional League Championship is scheduled to take place on July 1st and 2nd at Goldsmith Sport Ground in Velddrif, situated on the West Coast. The two teams that emerge victorious in the third division playoffs will earn automatic promotion to the Western Cape ABC Motsepe Provincial League.

The 6 Western Cape Regional League winners are: