ABC Football Club were crowned the 2026 Hollywoodbets SAFA Vhembe Men’s Regional League champions after defeating Ramantsha Blackpool 1-0 in the SAFA Vhembe Men’s Regional League Champ of Champs final at Thohoyandou Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
A solitary goal proved enough to separate the two sides in a closely contested encounter, as ABC FC produced another disciplined display to lift the coveted regional title in front of jubilant supporters.
The triumph capped off a remarkable season for the Lions of the North, who dominated the SAFA Vhembe Men’s Regional League from start to finish. The club finished top of Stream I with an unbeaten record of 124 points, winning 40 of their 44 league matches while drawing the remaining four without suffering a single defeat.
ABC FC carried that impressive form into the Champ of Champs tournament. Drawn in Group B, they finished top of the standings with nine points from four matches, winning three and losing one. They scored six goals and conceded just twice, finishing ahead of Ramantsha Blackpool, Mahagala Young Stars, Ndiitwani Shooting Stars and Mukondeni Royals.
Their road to the title was far from straightforward. In Saturday morning’s semi-final, ABC FC came from behind to secure a hard-fought 2-1 victory over FC Basel, booking their place in the championship decider later that afternoon. They then completed the job with a narrow 1-0 win over Ramantsha Blackpool to be crowned champions.
Speaking after the victory, club chairman Lucas Tshibalo said the achievement fulfilled his ambition of making ABC FC the dominant force in the Vhembe region.
“I wanted to show the people of Venda that there’s only one lion in the region,” Tshibalo said, referring to the club’s nickname, the Lions of the North.
Head coach Sammy Dunga revealed that qualifying for the SAFA Limpopo Inter-Regional Playoffs had always been the team’s objective once they secured the Stream I title.
“From when we became the Stream I champions, the goal was that we’re going to play the Inter-Regional Playoffs, and it has happened,” said Dunga.
ABC FC’s success has largely been built on an experienced squad assembled at the start of the season, with several players having previously featured in professional football. The squad includes Javu Nkomo, Rilindeni Manwenda, Rudzani Ndou, Austin Raphahlelo, Joshua Netshilindi, experienced campaigner Nndwakhuli Ernot Dzaga, and Wanga “Messi” Khorommbi, who capped off an outstanding tournament by being named Player of the 2026 SAFA Vhembe Champ of Champs.
During the post-match celebrations, Dzaga paid tribute to the chairman’s vision and vowed that the team would not settle for merely participating in the next phase of the playoffs.
“From the beginning of the season, we knew our boss had said this was his last season after giving the club three seasons to achieve promotion to the ABC Motsepe League. We told ourselves that we’re not coming back to this league. Where we’re going next, to the SAFA Limpopo Inter-Regional Playoffs, we’re not going there to add numbers, we’re going there to attain promotion to the ABC Motsepe League.
“A very scary team is being assembled because we’ll do anything to support our chairman for as long as he and his family continue supporting us. We’re going, and we’re not coming back to this league.”
With the Vhembe title secured, ABC FC will now turn their attention to the SAFA Limpopo Inter-Regional Playoffs, scheduled for next weekend at Malamulele Stadium. The Lions of the North will be aiming to complete an extraordinary campaign by securing promotion to the ABC Motsepe League, taking one final step towards fulfilling the vision laid out by their chairman three seasons ago.
Images: By Mazilitha