Picture: Highbury FC crowned 2024 ABC Motsepe National Playoffs/Supplied
By BAKANG MOKOTO
Eastern Cape’s Highbury FC were crowned as 2024 ABC Motsepe National Playoffs Champions after beating Mpumalanga’s Kruger United 2-0 in the final to win the title in Upington, Northern Cape on Sunday. Highbury had to climb mountains to reach the playoffs and they did it courtesy of a brace from Mzoxolo Rafani, who also won the top goal scorer of the tournament award with a total of three goals.
The Eastern Cape will be proud of what Highbury has achieved as the club was the last to qualify for the National Playoffs. They played their qualifying match on 15 June 2024, to be crowned Eastern Cape Champions.
They then had to travel to Upington on the following day to be in time for the registration, ahead of their opening match of the tournament. They shrugged this off to beat Mangaung United from Free State 1-0.
Highbury FC went on to top group B with one win and a draw to qualify for the semi-finals. They then beat Njampela FC of KwaZulu Natal 1-0 in the semi-finals to book a place in the finals.
Highbury FC will walk away with R1.25 million as Champions of the 2024 ABC Motsepe National Playoffs, they will have to use R250 000 to develop their region.
TaungDailyNews 