Mcedi Vandala and Edmore Chirambadale scored in either half as Magesi FC defeated Cape Town City 2-0 in their opening Betway Premiership Promotion/Relegation Play-Off match at Seshego Stadium in Polokwane on Saturday, 30 May.
The defeat was a major setback for the Cape side, who were hoping to bounce back after beginning their play-off campaign with a 1-0 home loss to Milford FC.
Magesi opened the scoring in the 34th minute when Vandala converted a controversial penalty to give the hosts a deserved lead.
Known as Dikwena tša Meetse among their supporters, Magesi took full advantage of playing at home, creating numerous attacking opportunities. Their dominance was rewarded again in the 68th minute when Chirambadale found the back of the net to double the lead and put the match beyond Cape Town City’s reach.
Coached by Allen Freese, the Moletji-based outfit secured their place in the play-offs by the narrowest of margins. Their survival hopes were kept alive following a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Richards Bay in their final Betway Premiership match of the 2025/26 season, which saw them finish 15th on the league standings.
Following Saturday’s victory, Magesi will travel to face Milford FC on 3 June before heading to Cape Town for the return fixture against City on 10 June. They will conclude their play-off campaign at home against Milford FC on 13 June.
The four-match mini-league will determine which team secures a place in next season’s Betway Premiership, making every point crucial in the battle for top-flight survival and promotion.