National First Division

Football league

National First Division

Organising body| Premier Soccer League
Founded| 1996
Country| South Africa
Confederation| CAF
Divisions| 1
Number of clubs| 16
Level on pyramid| 2
Promotion to| Premier Division[1]
Relegation to| SAFA Second Division
Domestic cup(s)| Nedbank Cup
Current champions| Durban City
(1st title)
(2024–25)
Most championships| Free State Stars
Jomo Cosmos
Chippa United
Polokwane City (2 titles)
Website| psl.co.za/national-first-division
Current: 2025–26 National First Division

The National First Division[2], officially known as the Motsepe Foundation Championship for sponsorship reasons,[3] is the second-highest league of South African football after the South African Premiership. Both the South African Championship and South African Premiership are organised by the Premier Soccer League.

## Structure and rules

[edit]

### Seasons 2007–2011

[edit]

The restructured NFD was divided into two streams, one inland and another coastal – each of which consisted of 8 teams. The winners of the two streams played against each other in a 'final' at the end of the season – the winner of which was promoted to the Premiership. The loser of the 'final' played in a mini-tournament/play-offs against the two second-placed teams in each stream and the 15th-placed team on the Premiership log. The winner of this tournament was automatically promoted to the top flight.

Inland provinces

* Gauteng
* Limpopo
* Free State
* Mpumalanga
* North West

Coastal provinces

* Eastern Cape
* KwaZulu-Natal
* Northern Cape
* Western Cape

|  Map of League streams  |

Inland Stream

Coastal Stream

|

### Season 2011 onwards

[edit]

A new structure and new rules were decided, beginning from the 2011-12 season. The new rules are, that competing NFD teams, at all times during NFD matches, are required to field:[4]

* Minimum 5 South African-born under 23 players.
* Maximum 3 foreign players.

The new structure of the league, is a re-introduction of the one division format, previously used for the three seasons in 2004-07. This means, that the two former geographical split streams, will merge into one common division. The winner of the NFD will gain automatic promotion to Premiership (replacing the lowest ranked team in Premiership). Teams to finish 2nd and 3rd in NFD, will enter a playoff stage with a round robin format, against the team ranked as nr.15 in Premiership. Only the winner of this playoff stage gets promoted to the Premiership.[4]

Relegation/promotion rules between the NFD and the SAFA Second Division remain more or less unchanged. After each season, the two lowest ranked teams in the NFD will be relegated to the SAFA Second Division. In the opposite direction, the two best teams of SAFA Second Division will get promoted to the NFD, decided by a round robin playoff stage between the 9 provincial winners.

## History

[edit]

The first non-racial second level of South African football, was established in March 1987 as the OK League.[5] This league served as the competing place, for promotion/relegation to and from the topflight NSL. In the former years from 1978–1986, a topflight non-racial First Level had already been established, after the merger of the NFL and NPSL, to form the new common topflight NPSL. In the early years from 1978–1986 relegation/promotion to and from the topflight league, according to official records actually did happen, but apparently it happened from a Second Level league structure, still divided into whites/blacks/coloureds.[6]

When the new topflight South African Premiership was established in 1996, the organizers at the same time for the Second Level, replaced the former OK League with the new National First Division. Apart from being covered by a better sponsor deal, the most significant change -both at the First and Second Level- was to change the fixtures from yearly seasons, into the more Internationally adapted: September–May football season.

The first sponsors were United Bank who sponsored the league in 1997 and 1998. From November 1998 until the end of the 2001/2001 season, the league was sponsored by MTN.[7] It was reported that MTN withdrew from sponsorship the First Division as they were unhappy with their treatment from the PSL - the division organisers. MTN had been rebuffed by the PSL in their efforts to sponsor the PSL-organised Charity Cup because Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs would refuse to play in the tournament as the two clubs were sponsored by MTN's telecommunication rivals, Vodacom.[8] The First Division could not find a new sponsor until May 2004.

From 2004 until 2007 the league was sponsored by business magnate Tokyo Sexwale's Mvelaphanda Group and known as Mvela Golden League.[9] For those three seasons, there was no geographical split and all 16 teams played in one division. The league was then initially unable to find a sponsor, and there was again a geographical split into two or four streams until the 2011–12 season.[4]

Streams

Year  | Western Cape  | Natal/Eastern/Cape  | Northern  | Southern
| Winner  | Winner  | Winner  | Winner
1996–97[10] | Santos | African Wanderers | Black Leopards | Tembisa Classic
Streams
Year  | Coastal  | Inland
| Winner  | Runner-up  | Winner  | Runner-up
1997–98[11] | Seven Stars | Michau Warriors | Dynamos | Witbank Aces
1998–99[12] | African Wanderers | Avendale Athletico | Tembisa Classic | Ria Stars
1999–2000[13] | Golden Arrows | Avendale Athletico | Ria Stars | Dynamos
2000–01[14] | Amazulu | Park United | Black Leopards | Bloemfontein Young Tigers
2001–02[15] | African Wanderers | Avendale Athletico | Dynamos | Silver Stars
2002–03[16] | AmaZulu | Premier United | Silver Stars | Bloem Celtic
2003–04[17] | Bush Bucks | Avendale Athletico | Bloemfontein Celtic | Free State Stars
National
| Winner  | Runner-up  | Third place  | Fourth place
2004–05[18] | Free State Stars | Durban Stars | Hellenic | Tembisa Classic
2005–06[19] | Wits University | City Pillars | Vasco Da Gama | Benoni Premier United
2006–07[20] | Free State Stars | Winners Park | Pretoria University | FC AK
Streams
Year  | Coastal  | Inland
| Winner  | Runner-up  | Winner  | Runner-up
2007–08[21] | Maritzburg United | Bay United | FC AK | Dynamos
2008–09[22] | Carara Kicks | FC Cape Town | Jomo Cosmos | Mpumalanga Black Aces
2009–10[23] | Vasco Da Gama | Nathi Lions | Black Leopards[nb 1] | African Warriors
2010–11[24] | Bay United | Thanda Royal Zulu | Jomo Cosmos | Black Leopards
National
| Winner  | Runner-up  | Third place  | Fourth place
2011–12[25] | Pretoria University | Chippa United | Thanda Royal Zulu | Blackburn Rovers
2012–13[26] | Polokwane City | Santos | Mpumalanga Black Aces | Thanda Royal Zulu
2013–14[27] | Chippa United | Black Leopards | Maritzburg United | Baroka
2014–15[28] | Lamontville Golden Arrows | Jomo Cosmos | Black Leopards | Thanda Zulu Royal
2015–16[29] | Baroka | Highlands Park | Mbombela United | Witbank Spurs
2016–17[30] | Thanda Royal Zulu F.C.[nb 2] | Black Leopards | Stellenbosch | Royal Eagles
2017–18[31] | Highlands Park | Black Leopards | Jomo Cosmos | Real Kings
2018–19[32] | Stellenbosch | Royal Eagles | Tshakhuma Tsha Madzivhandila | Ajax Cape Town
2019–20[33] | Moroka Swallows | Ajax Cape Town | Tshakhuma Tsha Madzivhandila[nb 3] | Real Kings
2020–21[34] |  Sekhukhune United | Royal AM[nb 4] | Richards Bay | TS Sporting
2021–22[35] | Richards Bay | Tuks | Cape Town All Stars | JDR Stars
2022–23[36] | Polokwane City | Cape Town Spurs | Casric Stars | All Stars
2023–24[37] | Magesi | University of Pretoria | Baroka | Maritzburg United
2024–25[38] | Durban City | Orbit College | Casric Stars | Black Leopards

Promoted to Premiership

Playoff losers

|

Notes

1. ^ Black Leopards participated in a two-legged promotion/relegation playoff with Mpumalanga Black Aces and lost 5-3 on penalties. They were not promoted.
2. ^ Thanda Zulu Royal were not promoted as their league status was purchased by fifth-placed Amazulu.
3. ^ TTM lost in the playoffs, but purchased their position in the 2020–21 South African Premier Division by buying the Premier League status of Bidvest Wits.
4. ^ Royal AM did not participate in the playoffs, but purchased their position in the 2021–22 South African Premier Division by buying the Premier League status of Bloemfontein Celtic.

## See also

[edit]

* Nedbank Cup

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "The national soccer league handbook" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2023-12-26.
2. ^ "The national soccer league handbook" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2023-12-26.
3. ^ "Motsepe Foundation Sponsor The PSL's National First Division". Soccer Laduma. 1 July 2022. Retrieved 2022-08-25.
4. ^ a b c "First Division Streams to Merge". KickOff. Retrieved 2010-05-09.
5. ^ "About the National First Division". PSL. Archived from the original on 2011-04-30. Retrieved 2011-05-07.
6. ^ "South Africa 1978". RSSSF. Retrieved 2011-05-07.
7. ^ "MTN gives the PSL a R22-m boost". City Press. 1 November 1998. Archived from the original on 2013-12-11. Retrieved 2012-11-28.
8. ^ Nxumalo, Raymond (9 September 2001). "League to go ahead without sponsors". City Press. Archived from the original on 2013-12-11. Retrieved 2012-11-28.
9. ^ "Mvelaphanda sponsorship boosts First Division". City Press. 9 May 2004.[permanent dead link]
10. ^ "South Africa 1996/97". RSSSF. Retrieved 2011-04-27.
11. ^ "South Africa 1997/98". RSSSF. Retrieved 2010-04-19.
12. ^ "South Africa 1998/99". RSSSF. Retrieved 2010-04-19.
13. ^ "South Africa 1999/00". RSSSF. Retrieved 2010-04-19.
14. ^ "South Africa 2000/01". RSSSF. Retrieved 2010-04-19.
15. ^ "South Africa 2001/02". RSSSF. Retrieved 2010-04-19.
16. ^ "South Africa 2002/03". RSSSF. Retrieved 2010-04-19.
17. ^ "South Africa 2003/04". RSSSF. Retrieved 2010-04-19.
18. ^ "South Africa 2004/05". RSSSF. Retrieved 2010-04-19.
19. ^ "South Africa 2005/06". RSSSF. Retrieved 2010-04-19.
20. ^ "South Africa 2006/07". RSSSF. Retrieved 2010-04-19.
21. ^ "South Africa 2007/08". RSSSF. Retrieved 2010-09-16.
22. ^ "South Africa 2008/09". RSSSF. Retrieved 2010-04-19.
23. ^ "South Africa 2009/10". RSSSF. Retrieved 2010-04-19.
24. ^ "South Africa 2010/11". RSSSF. Retrieved 2011-04-27.
25. ^ "South Africa 2011/12". RSSSF. Retrieved 2012-07-07.
26. ^ "South Africa 2012/13". RSSSF. Retrieved 2015-03-05.
27. ^ "South Africa 2013/14". RSSSF. Retrieved 2016-02-06.
28. ^ "South Africa 2014/15". RSSSF. Retrieved 2016-02-06.
29. ^ "South Africa 2015/16". RSSSF. Retrieved 2017-05-03.
30. ^ "South Africa 2016/17". RSSSF. Retrieved 2017-07-07.
31. ^ "South Africa 2017/18". RSSSF. Retrieved 2018-07-23.
32. ^ "South Africa 2018/19". RSSSF. Retrieved 2019-07-24.
33. ^ "South Africa 2019/20". RSSSF. Retrieved 2021-02-19.
34. ^ "South Africa 2020/21". RSSSF. Retrieved 2021-09-04.
35. ^ "South Africa 2021/22". www.rsssf.org. Retrieved 2023-08-17.
36. ^ "South Africa 2022/23". www.rsssf.org. Retrieved 2023-08-17.
37. ^ "South Africa 2023/24". www.rsssf.org. Retrieved 2024-05-06.
38. ^ "South Africa 2024/25". www.rsssf.org. Retrieved 2025-07-06.

## External links

[edit]

* National First Division Official Website
* Premier Soccer League Official Website
* National First Division section at psl.co.za
* South African Football Association (SAFA)
* Confederation of African Football (CAF)

* v
* t
* e

2025–26 National First Division

* Baroka
* The Bees
* Black Leopards
* Cape Town City
* Casric Stars
* Gomora United
* Highbury
* Hungry Lions
* Kruger United
* Leicesterford City
* Lerumo Lions
* Midlands Wanderers
* Milford
* University of Pretoria
* Upington City
* Venda F.C.

* v
* t
* e

Soccer in South Africa

South African Football Association

National teams|

| Men|

* National team (Bafana Bafana)
* Olympic (U-23) (Amaglug-glug)
* U-20 (Amajita)
* U-17 (Amajimbos)
* development (Amabinneplaas)
* U-15

|

Women|

* National team (Banyana Banyana)
* U-20 (Basetsana)
* U-17 (Bantwana)
* U-15

League system|

| Men|

| Active|

* Premier Soccer League (South African Premiership
* National First Division)
* SAFA
* SAFA Second Division
* Regional League
* U19 National League
* Varsity Sports
* Football

|

Defunct|

* NFL (1959–77)
* SASL (1961–67)
* FPL (1969–90)
* NPSL Castle League for blacks (1971–77)
* NPSL Castle League (1978–84)
* NPSL (1985–95)
* NSL Castle League (1985–95)
* NSL Second Division (1985–95)

Women|

| Active|

* SAFA Women's League
* Sasol Women’s League (Provincial leagues)
* SAFA Women's Regional League (Regional leagues)
* Women's Varsity Football

|

Domestic cups|

| Men|

| Active|

* Nedbank Cup
* Carling Knockout Cup
* MTN 8

|

Defunct|

* Baymed Cup (2006)
* Carling Black Label Cup (2011–2022)
* Mangaung Cup (2007–2011)
* NFL Cup (1959–77)
* SASF Cup (1961–85)
* Telkom Charity Cup (1986–2010)
* United Bank International Soccer Festival (1993–94)
* Vodacom Challenge (1999-2011)

Awards|

* SAFA Awards
* PSL Awards

Lists|

* Clubs
* Club name changes and purchases
* Foreign players

* Men's clubs
* Men's players
* Women's players
* Expatriate players
* Managers
* Referees
* Venues
* Seasons
* Records

* v
* t
* e

Seasons in South African soccer

Premiership teams (2025–26)|

* AmaZulu
* Chippa United
* Durban City
* Golden Arrows
* Kaizer Chiefs
* Magesi
* Marumo Gallants
* Mamelodi Sundowns
* Orbit College
* Pirates
* Polokwane City
* Richards Bay
* Sekhukhune United
* Stellenbosch
* Siwelele
* TS Galaxy

First Division teams (2025–26)|

* Baroka
* The Bees
* Black Leopards
* Cape Town City
* Casric Stars
* Gomora United
* Highbury
* Hungry Lions
* Kruger United
* Leicesterford City
* Lerumo Lions
* Midlands Wanderers
* Milford
* University of Pretoria
* Upington City
* Venda

Premiership|

* 1996–97
* 1997–98
* 1998–99
* 1999–2000
* 2000–01
* 2001–02
* 2002–03
* 2003–04
* 2004–05
* 2005–06
* 2006–07
* 2007–08
* 2008–09
* 2009–10
* 2010–11
* 2011–12
* 2012–13
* 2013–14
* 2014–15
* 2015–16
* 2016–17
* 2017–18
* 2018–19
* 2019–20
* 2020–21
* 2021–22
* 2022–23
* 2023–24
* 2024–25
* 2025–26

National First Division|

* 1996–97
* 1997–98
* 1998–99
* 1999–2000
* 2000–01
* 2001–02
* 2002–03
* 2003–04
* 2004–05
* 2005–06
* 2006–07
* 2007–08
* 2008–09
* 2009–10
* 2010–11
* 2011–12
* 2012–13
* 2013–14
* 2014–15
* 2015–16
* 2016–17
* 2017–18
* 2018–19
* 2019–20
* 2020–21
* 2021–22
* 2022–23
* 2023–24
* 2024–25
* 2025–26

SAFA Second Division|

* 1998–99
* 1999–2000
* 2000–01
* 2001–02
* 2002–03
* 2003–04
* 2004–05
* 2005–06
* 2006–07
* 2007–08
* 2008–09
* 2009–10
* 2010–11
* 2011–12
* 2012–13
* 2013–14
* 2014–15
* 2015–16
* 2016–17
* 2017–18
* 2018–19
* 2019–20
* 2020–21
* 2021–22
* 2022–23
* 2023–24
* 2024–25
* 2025–26

Nedbank Cup|

* 1971
* 1972
* 1973
* 1974
* 1975
* 1976
* 1977
* 1978
* 1979
* 1980
* 1981
* 1982
* 1983
* 1984
* 1985
* 1986
* 1987
* 1988
* 1989
* 1990
* 1991
* 1992
* 1993
* 1994
* 1995
* 1996
* 1998
* 1999
* 2000
* 2001
* 2003
* 2004
* 2005
* 2006
* 2007
* 2008
* 2008–09
* 2009–10
* 2010–11
* 2011–12
* 2012–13
* 2013–14
* 2014–15
* 2015–16
* 2016–17
* 2017–18
* 2018–19
* 2019–20
* 2020–21
* 2021–22
* 2022–23
* 2023–24
* 2024–25

MTN 8|

* 1972
* 1973
* 1974
* 1975
* 1976
* 1977
* 1978
* 1979
* 1980
* 1981
* 1982
* 1983
* 1984
* 1985
* 1986
* 1987
* 1988
* 1989
* 1990
* 1991
* 1992
* 1993
* 1994
* 1995
* 1996
* 2000
* 2001
* 2002
* 2003
* 2004
* 2005
* 2006
* 2007
* 2008
* 2009
* 2010
* 2011
* 2012
* 2013
* 2014
* 2015
* 2016
* 2017
* 2018
* 2019
* 2020
* 2021
* 2022
* 2023
* 2024
* 2025

Telkom Knockout/Carling Knockout Cup|

* 1982
* 1983
* 1984
* 1985
* 1986
* 1987
* 1988
* 1989
* 1990
* 1991
* 1992
* 1993
* 1994
* 1995
* 1996
* 1997
* 1998
* 1999
* 2000
* 2001
* 2002
* 2003
* 2004
* 2005
* 2006
* 2007
* 2008
* 2009
* 2010
* 2011
* 2012
* 2013
* 2014
* 2015
* 2016
* 2017
* 2018
* 2019
* 2020
* 2023
* 2024

Carling Black Label Cup|

* 2011
* 2012
* 2013
* 2014
* 2015
* 2016
* 2017
* 2019
* 2021
* 2022

National Football League|

* 1959
* 1960
* 1961
* 1962
* 1963
* 1964
* 1965
* 1966
* 1967
* 1968
* 1969
* 1970
* 1971
* 1972
* 1973
* 1974
* 1975
* 1976
* 1977

Federation Professional League|

* 1969
* 1970
* 1971
* 1972
* 1973
* 1974
* 1975
* 1976
* 1977
* 1978
* 1979
* 1980
* 1981
* 1982
* 1983
* 1984
* 1985
* 1986
* 1987
* 1988
* 1989
* 1990

NPSL (1971-1977)|

* 1971
* 1972
* 1973
* 1974
* 1975
* 1976
* 1977

NPSL (1978-1984)|

* 1978
* 1979
* 1980
* 1981
* 1982
* 1983
* 1984

NPSL (1985-1995)|

* 1985
* 1986
* 1987
* 1988
* 1989
* 1990
* 1984
* 1992
* 1983
* 1994
* 1995

National Soccer League (NSL)|

* 1985
* 1986
* 1987
* 1988
* 1989
* 1990
* 1991
* 1992
* 1993
* 1994
* 1995

SASF Cup|

* 1961
* 1962
* 1963
* 1969
* 1970
* 1971
* 1972
* 1973
* 1974
* 1975
* 1976
* 1977
* 1978
* 1979
* 1980
* 1981
* 1982
* 1983
* 1984
* 1985
* 1986
* 1987
* 1988
* 1989
* 1990

Telkom Charity Cup|

* 1986
* 1987
* 1988
* 1989
* 1990
* 1991
* 1992
* 1993
* 1994
* 1995
* 1996
* 1997
* 1998
* 1999
* 2000
* 2001
* 2002
* 2003
* 2004
* 2005
* 2006
* 2007
* 2008
* 2009
* 2010

Vodacom Challenge|

* 1999
* 2000
* 2001
* 2002
* 2003
* 2004
* 2005
* 2006
* 2007
* 2008
* 2009
* 2011

* v
* t
* e

Second level football leagues of Africa (CAF)

* Algeria
* Angola
* Djibouti
* DR Congo
* Egypt
* until 2023
* from 2023
* Ghana
* Ivory Coast
* Kenya
* Libya
* Morocco
* Namibia
* Nigeria
* Rwanda
* São Tomé and Príncipe
* São Tomé
* Príncipe
* Somalia
* South Africa
* Togo
* Tunisia
* Uganda
* Zambia
* Zimbabwe

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