When Relegation Hits: The Struggles of Clubs Dropping into the Motsepe Foundation Championship
Cape Town Spurs FC
For clubs relegated from the top flight — the Dstv Premiership — life in the MFC often brings sharp financial, structural and morale challenges. What once were fully professional outfits with loyal fans, sponsorships, and regular media attention can find themselves fighting just to stay afloat.
Key Challenges Of Relegation to the MFC
Dramatic drop in revenue & sponsorships — Clubs often lose cash‑flow that came with being in the Premiership. League grants, broadcast money, sponsorship deals, ticket sales all shrink, making it hard to maintain budgets for players and operations.
Player exodus & contract pressure — With lower income, clubs struggle to retain top players. Many leave seeking stability elsewhere, or demand wage cuts — threatening squad strength and depth.
Reduced visibility & fan support — Going down a tier often means less media coverage, fewer big matches, and waning interest from fans — which can make it harder to rebuild momentum and morale.
Uncertain long‑term strategy — Relegation forces clubs to rethink resources, recruitment, staffing, and ambitions. Some may aim for immediate promotion, but others may struggle to retool given financial constraints.
Case Study: Cape Town City FC — From Top‑flight Hopes to MFC Reality
Take Cape Town City FC, relegated from the Premiership after the 2024/25 season following a playoff defeat to Orbit College FC. (Apex Football Lite)
What Went Wrong
City struggled throughout the season: poor results, instability (coaching changes mid‑season), and failure to score consistently — the club ended with one of the worst scoring records in the league, registering just 15 goals. (Apex Football Lite)
Their playoff campaign, their last chance to stay up, was unsuccessful — a 1‑0 loss confirmed their relegation. (Apex Football Lite)
High‑profile signings like veteran players (intended to bolster survival chances) failed to turn the tide. (sbnews.co.za)
Fallout of Relegation
According to the club’s chairman, relegation puts them at risk of losing major sponsorships (for example, deals with big sponsors like banks), making the financial situation “unsustainable” under their existing cost structure. (Farpost)
The revenue drop is stark — Premiership clubs receive significantly more grant money than MFC clubs. This gap makes it difficult to maintain expenses such as player salaries, travel, training facilities, and general operations. (Farpost)
Many players become uncertain about their futures — some may leave, others might push for renegotiated contracts, others may struggle to stay motivated in a lower‑tier league. (The Citizen)
The result: what looked like a temporary setback could spiral into deeper structural and financial challenges for the club.
Wider Picture: Why Other Relegated or Lower‑Tier Clubs Face the Same Issues
Recent 2025 MFC data shows multiple clubs in “danger zone” — teams like Leruma United, Venda FC, Upington City, and others battling relegation to the third tier. (Sowetan)
Clubs in these positions often struggle with:
Lack of financial injection — second‑tier football in South Africa doesn’t bring the same commercial or broadcast revenue as the top flight.
Instability — frequent changes, relegation scares, diminishing resources — which affects planning, youth development, and long‑term growth.
Talent drain — promising players may leave to ensure career progression or financial security, leaving behind weaker squads.
For some clubs, relegation can be the start of a downward spiral that’s hard to reverse.
What Needs to Change — Is There a Path to Stability & Comeback?
For clubs relegated to the MFC to stabilize and aim for a return to top‑flight football, several things must shift:
Sensible financial restructuring — Adjust budgets realistically to the revenue in the MFC; renegotiate contracts; focus on sustainability over ambition.
Focus on youth & local talent — Building from within rather than expensive signings could help maintain a competitive but affordable squad.
Community & fan engagement — Keeping fans involved and engaged despite relegation can help with morale, ticket sales, and local backing.
Clear long‑term plan — Whether aiming for promotion quickly or rebuilding gradually, stability and good management decisions are essential.
Conclusion: Relegation Shouldn’t Mean Oblivion — But Without Strategy, It Might
For clubs like Cape Town City — and others dropping into or stuck in the MFC — relegation is more than a sporting failure: it’s a financial, organizational and existential test.
If they don’t adapt — by cutting costs, nurturing talent, engaging fans, and resetting expectations — the drop could turn into a multi‑year struggle. But with smart leadership and realistic ambition, relegation can become a chance for reinvention and return.
If you like, I can pull up a list of 5–10 clubs from the last 5 years who were relegated from the Premiership and show which ones rebounded successfully and which ones collapsed — good for illustrating how volatile this process can be.
