Regional playoffs coming
REGIONAL – The Safa Eden Men’s Regional League playoffs are only a few weeks away now, and Plettenberg Bay will be playing host to the vast majority of games with only three played in Knysna, Sedgefield, and George respectively. The playoffs are a vital part of the annual soccer season, as they determine which two teams will make the big step up from the local football association (LFA) leagues to the Regional League. The playoffs are played as a mini league, where the winners of each of the six LFAs go head to head. Each club plays the others once, with a total of 15 games played over a three-day period. The two clubs* that finish first and second after the playoffs are the ones chosen to represent their respective LFA in the Safa Eden Men’s Regional League, where the region’s 16 best sides ply their trade. In the 2020/21 season it was the George LFA that was best represented in the league with nine clubs flying their flag. Oudtshoorn, Knysna and Mossel Bay were all second-best with two apiece, while Plett only had one.
George LFA could however see its representation trimmed by at least one after the 2020/21 season, as both of the clubs that could be relegated* - Young Pirates and Young Blues - are from the Garden City. There will of course be the chance for their domestic league winners to make the jump to the Regional League and ensure there are at least eight George clubs. But, they will be facing stiff competition from the other LFAs who are all hoping to grow their representation in the Regional League.
Red Eagles will be representing Knysna, having edged out Flamingo on the final weekend of games in the 2020/21 Knysna LFA Domestic League. With their fourth attempt at making the leap, they will be hoping to join FC United and CX Celtics as the third Knysna club. Springroses will be representing Oudtshoorn, Zama Zama will be the team from Riversdale, Baruch’s the team from Mossel Bay, and Raul Stars the team from Riversdale. The Plett LFA’s representative is not yet decided as their league has not finished yet.
The battle for the two Safa Eden Men’s Regional League spots will commence on Friday 13 August. Red Eagles will play their rivals from Plett in Hornlee, Baruch’s will face Zama Zama in George, and Raul Stars will play Springroses in Sedgefield. Thereafter, all the clubs will play two games each on Saturday 14 and Sunday 15 August with all the games being played in Plett.
* The number of teams relegated from the league depends on whether or not Black Cats, the Eden representative in the ABC Motsepe League playoffs, make the jump up. If they do, then only one spot will be available for an LFA team to fill.