2007–08 National First Division

National First Division
Season2007–08
Dates28 September 2007 – 13 April 2008
ChampionsMaritzburg United
PromotedMaritzburg United
Bay United
RelegatedGa-Rankuwa United
Western Province United

The 2007–08 National First Division was the 12th season of the National First Division, the second tier of South African soccer.

Due to a lack of sponsorship, the previously national league was split into two streams, a coastal stream and an inland stream, with the winners of each meeting in a final.[1]

The champions were Maritzburg United, who were promoted to the South African Premier Division in their first season in the second tier following relegation from the 2006–07 Premier Soccer League,[2] alongside play-off victors Bay United. Ga-Rankuwa United and Western Province United were relegated to the SAFA Second Division.[3][4]

Inland Stream champions FC AK were initially found guilty of bribery and docked 15 points, but after a protracted appeals process, the sanction was reversed, and FC AK took their place in the championship final.[5][6]

After winning the league, Maritzburg coach Ian Palmer parted ways with the club.[7]

Inland stream

League table

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Promotion, qualification or relegation
1 FC AK 21 10 7 4 21 19 +2 37 Qualification to Championship play-off
2 Dynamos 21 9 4 8 31 23 +8 31 Qualification to Promotion play-off
3 Winners Park 21 9 4 8 25 24 +1 31
4 African Warriors 21 8 5 8 20 21 −1 29
5 Mpumalanga Black Aces 21 7 7 7 26 23 +3 28
6 Witbank Spurs 21 6 8 7 21 21 0 26
7 University of Pretoria 21 6 7 8 23 27 −4 25
8 Ga-Rankuwa United (R) 21 5 6 10 22 31 −9 21 Relegation to SAFA Second Division
Source: [8]
(R) Relegated

Coastal stream

League table

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Promotion, qualification or relegation
1 Maritzburg United 21 14 5 2 31 13 +18 47 Qualification to Championship play-off
2 Bay United 21 14 3 4 30 10 +20 45 Qualification to Promotion play-off
3 Nathi Lions 21 8 10 3 22 13 +9 34
4 FC Cape Town 21 6 8 7 24 24 0 26
5 Ikapa Sporting 21 5 6 10 25 30 −5 21
6 Durban Stars (R) 21 5 6 10 19 31 −12 21
7 Hanover Park 21 5 4 12 22 32 −10 19
8 Western Province United 21 2 8 11 20 40 −20 14 Relegation to SAFA Second Division
Source: [8]
(R) Relegated

Championship play-off

First leg
FC AK 1–1Maritzburg United
Khaiseb 32' Davids 57'
Second leg
Maritzburg United2–0FC AK
Davids 63', 74'

Maritzburg United win the championship and earn promotion, FC AK go through to the promotion playoffs

Source:[8]

Promotion play-off

Semi-finals

First leg
Bay United1–0Black Leopards
Second leg
Black Leopards1–1Bay United

Black Leopards, who finished 15th in the 2007–08 Premier Soccer League, were relegated to the 2008–09 National First Division

First leg
FC AK0–0Dynamos
Second leg
Dynamos1–2FC AK


Final

First leg
FC AK0–0Bay United
Second leg
Bay United2–1FC AK

Bay United were promoted to the 2008–09 Premier Soccer League.

Source:[8]

References

  1. ^ "A giant leap backwards for SA soccer". The Mail & Guardian. 14 September 2007. Retrieved 25 July 2023.
  2. ^ "Battle lines drawn in the NFD". SowetanLIVE. Retrieved 24 July 2023.
  3. ^ "South Africa 2007/08". www.rsssf.org. Retrieved 24 July 2023.
  4. ^ "Premier Soccer League - www.psl.co.za - official website". www.psl.co.za. Retrieved 24 July 2023.
  5. ^ "Aziz Kara banned for life". Sport. Retrieved 24 July 2023.
  6. ^ "NFD teams now happy". SowetanLIVE. Retrieved 24 July 2023.
  7. ^ "Maritzburg boots Palmer". Sport. Retrieved 24 July 2023.
  8. ^ a b c d "South Africa 2007/08". RSSSF. Retrieved 24 July 2023.