2011–12 National First Division

The 2011–12 National First Division, is the season from September 2011 until May 2012, of South Africa's second tier of professional football. By the end of the season, the overall NFD champion will get promoted to the first level, known as Premier Soccer League (PSL).

National First Division
Season2011–12
ChampionsTuks FC
PromotedChippa United
RelegatedDynamos FC
Atlie FC
Matches played240
Goals scored631 (2.63 per match)
Top goalscorerDavid Radebe (17)

For the first time since the 2003–04 National First Division season, all teams have been placed in one unified league table. Previously the competition had been split into two 'streams'.

Summary

At the conclusion of the season Tuks FC secured their promotion to the PSL after topping the table.[1] Second-placed Chippa United and third-placed Thanda Royal Zulu were joined by Santos of the PSL in a three team promotion and relegation playoff. At the conclusion of the playoffs Chippa United had secured their promotion to the PSL, in the process relegating Santos to the National First Division.[2] This would be Chippa United's second successive promotion as they had only just earned promotion to the National First Division. What made Chippa United's promotion all the more special is that the club was only established in 2010.

Atlie FC and Carara Kicks were relegated at the end of the season.[3]

League table
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Promotion or relegation
1 Tuks FC (C, P) 30 15 10 5 45 25 +20 55 Promotion to 2012–13 Premier Soccer League
2 Chippa United 30 14 9 7 46 29 +17 51 Qualification to 2011–12 PSL Playoff Tournament
3 Thanda Royal Zulu 30 13 11 6 34 28 +6 50
4 Blackburn Rovers 30 14 7 9 44 37 +7 49
5 FC AK 30 12 9 9 45 43 +2 45
6 African Warriors 30 11 10 9 43 36 +7 43
7 Vasco da Gama 30 12 7 11 51 45 +6 43
8 FC Cape Town 30 10 9 11 38 36 +2 39
9 United FC 30 10 9 11 46 45 +1 39
10 Bay United 30 8 11 11 32 40 −8 35
11 Sivutsa Stars FC 30 9 7 14 39 47 −8 34
12 Witbank Spurs 30 9 7 14 32 42 −10 34
13 Mpumalanga Black Aces 30 7 12 11 33 41 −8 33
14 Dynamos F.C. 30 9 5 16 37 49 −12 32
15 Atlie FC (R) 30 6 10 14 24 42 −18 28 Relegation to Vodacom League
16 Carara Kicks (R) 30 9 11 10 42 46 −4 20[lower-alpha 1]
Source:
(C) Champion; (P) Promoted; (R) Relegated.
Notes:
  1. Eighteen points deducted

PSL playoff tournament

The teams that finished second and third during the 2011-12 National First Division season were joined by the team that finished 15th in the 2011–12 Premier Soccer League season in a 3-team promotion and relegation playoff called the PSL Playoff Tournament.

Participants
Team League Pos
Santos2011–12 Premier Soccer League15th
Chippa United2011–12 National First Division2nd
Thanda Royal Zulu2011–12 National First Division3rd

Format

The 3 teams participated in a mini-league in which they played one another twice (home and away) with log points being awarded for winning a match (3 points) and drawing a match (1 point). At the conclusion of the mini-league phase the team that was in first place would either earn or maintain their place in the PSL for the 2012–13 season. If the team that finished 15th in the PSL was unable to win the mini-league, they were relegated to the National First Division for the 2012-13 season.

Playoff table

At the conclusion of the PSL Playoff Tournament Chippa United had topped the mini-league after defeating Santos 4-3 in the final game, earning their place in the PSL for the 2012-13 season. As they were unable to win the mini-league, Santos failed to maintain their place in the PSL and were relegated to the National First Division for the 2012-13 season.

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Promotion or relegation
1 Chippa United (P) 4 2 2 0 8 4 +4 8 Promotion to 2012–13 Premier Soccer League
3 Santos (R) 4 1 1 2 5 6 −1 4 Relegation to 2012–13 National First Division
2 Thanda Royal Zulu 4 1 1 2 3 6 −3 4
Source:
(P) Promoted; (R) Relegated.

Results
Thanda Royal Zulu0 – 1Santos
Report Rodgers  12'
Attendance: 2,000
Chippa United1 – 1Thanda Royal Zulu
Ngebo  55' Report Nwadike  47'
Santos0 – 0Chippa United
Report
Santos1 – 2Thanda Royal Zulu
Morris  19' Report Mvalo  52'
Sitayitayi  57'
Thanda Royal Zulu0 – 3Chippa United
Report Mbenyane  6'
Shumana  57'
Sali  88'
Chippa United4-3Santos
Dlamini  10'
Mbenyane  27'
Twala  76'
Shumana  81'		 Report Rodgers  28' (89)
Arendse  40'
Attendance: 2,000

Player eligibility dispute

Carara Kicks fielded a player who had not been properly registered by the club and appeared in league games. As a result, Carara Kicks had 18 points removed from their total and were relegated.[4]

References
  1. "Matthews welcomes Tuks to the top-flight". Kickoff.com. 14 May 2012. Retrieved 19 July 2012.
  2. "Chippa promoted, Santos relegated". MTNFootball.com. 30 June 2012. Archived from the original on 2016-03-12. Retrieved 19 July 2012.
  3. "Dynamos Relegated". zoutnet.co.za. 25 May 2012. Retrieved 19 July 2012.
  4. "Carara relegated, Dynamos back in NFD". Kickoff.com. 14 August 2012. Retrieved 14 August 2012.
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