Magesi FC and Orbit College will begin a new chapter in the Motsepe Foundation Championship this weekend after both clubs were relegated from the Betway Premiership at the end of the 2025/26 season.
Orbit College finished 16th on the Premiership log and were automatically relegated, while Magesi, who finished 15th, were given a final opportunity to retain their top-flight status through the Promotion/Relegation Play-Offs.
However, Magesi could not make the opportunity count after finishing second behind Milford FC in the three-team playoff mini-league. Milford secured promotion after drawing 1-1 with Magesi at Seshego Stadium on June 13, while Magesi were condemned to the second tier.
Magesi’s playoff campaign also included meetings with Cape Town City and Milford FC. They beat Cape Town City 2-0 at Seshego Stadium, lost 1-0 to Milford at the uMhlathuze Sports Complex in Richards Bay and later drew 1-1 with City at Athlone Stadium before the decisive 1-1 draw against Milford.
Now, the Limpopo outfit will turn its attention to winning promotion back to the elite division.
Magesi will begin their campaign away against Midlands Wanderers at Mpumalanga Stadium in KwaZulu-Natal on Saturday, August 22. The club has confirmed the fixture as its opening match of the new season.
Orbit College, meanwhile, will also start their fight for an immediate return to the Premiership on Saturday when they travel to face Leicesterford City at Mafori Stadium. The match is scheduled for 15:00.
The 2026/27 Motsepe Foundation Championship gets underway on Friday, August 21, with two matches, before six more fixtures are played on Saturday.
Friday’s opening fixtures
The first match of the new campaign will see Real Native FC host Cape Town City at Solomon Mahlangu Stadium, with the Mpumalanga club beginning a new era following its rebranding from Casric Stars.
The other Friday fixture sees Venda FC host Lerumo Lions at Thohoyandou Stadium. The match is scheduled for 15:00, with entry announced as free.
Friday, August 21
• Real Native FC vs Cape Town City — Solomon Mahlangu Stadium, 15:00
• Venda FC vs Lerumo Lions — Thohoyandou Stadium, 15:00
Saturday’s packed programme
Saturday will see the remaining 12 teams enter the competition, with six matches scheduled.
Newly promoted Hope FC will make their professional debut against University of Pretoria at Athlone Stadium in Cape Town. The historic fixture is scheduled for 15:00.
Hungry Lions will host Gomora United, while Leicesterford welcome relegated Orbit College to Mafori Stadium.
Magesi’s first match back in the second tier will be against Midlands Wanderers, while fellow newcomers NWU FC will host Upington City at the Fanie du Toit Sports Ground in Potchefstroom.
The final fixture of the opening weekend will see The Bees host Highbury at KaNyamazane Stadium.
Saturday, August 22
• Hope FC vs University of Pretoria — Athlone Stadium, 15:00
• Hungry Lions vs Gomora United — Mxolisi Dicky Jacobs Stadium, 15:00
• Leicesterford City vs Orbit College — Mafori Stadium, 15:00
• Midlands Wanderers vs Magesi FC — Mpumalanga Stadium, 15:00
• NWU FC vs Upington City — Fanie du Toit Sports Ground, Potchefstroom, 15:00
• The Bees vs Highbury — KaNyamazane Stadium, 15:00
The PSL has confirmed that the 2026/27 Motsepe Foundation Championship will feature 16 clubs, with the season scheduled to run until May 9, 2027. All matches are scheduled for 15:00, with the exception of Orbit College’s home fixtures at Olympia Park Stadium, which are scheduled for 19:30.
For Magesi and Orbit, however, the immediate objective is clear: bounce back at the first attempt and return to the Betway Premiership.
The two clubs now face the challenge of adapting to life in the second tier, where the battle for promotion is expected to be just as intense as the fight for survival at the top level.