Grassroots football in Gert Sibande is set for an exciting new era as the Hollywoodbets Regional League begins its 2026/27 season on Sunday, 6 September 2026. The Regional Association has expanded the competition from four streams last season to six this term. For the first time since the Regional League was introduced in the late 1990s, matches will be contested locally at Local Football Association (LFA) level.

This change significantly reduces travel distances and costs for clubs. Teams will now primarily face opponents from within their own local municipality. Clubs from different LFAs will only meet during the promotional playoffs at the end of the season as they battle for promotion to the Provincial ABC Motsepe League. The restructuring is expected to ease the financial burden on club owners. Last season, some teams were spending as much as R4,000 to travel 100 kilometres for away fixtures. Under the new format, no side will face such long journeys.

‘We will continue with the league since it will now be playing around Mkhondo. Maybe the transport will be affordable this season.”

In the Mkhondo Local Municipality stream, nine teams are registered, including Jericho Ocean FC, the 2025/26 Mkhondo Promotion League champions. For Jericho Ocean, the longest away trip will be approximately 76 kilometres — from Amsterdam to Ematafuleni in KwaNgema to face Juventus FC. The biggest LFA in the Region is Chief Albert Luthuli LFA which has two streams. This is mainly due to the vastness of the Municipality. It is the only municipality where one can travel 100km without leaving it’s jurisdiction. They will be involved in Stream E & Stream F.

The development of football in the area is also boosted by the support given by political leadership. The Executive Mayor Jon Cllr. Mbuso Magubane is not only the first citizen but also the number one supporter of football. He established Fernie Battalions FC which is campaigning in the ABC Motsepe League alongside Carolina Young Boys FC and Luthuli Brigades FC, all coming from the Chief Albert Luthuli LFA.

Officials and club representatives believe the localised format will revive long-standing rivalries while creating fresh local derbies. With reduced travel expenses, clubs can redirect limited resources toward player development, kit, and match-day operations. “We are relieved as clubs, the travelling costs are unbearable. We will now be able to concentrate on other things like getting more balls for training and payment of referees,” said Teekay Hlatshwayo of Mkhondo Total Football United. Shining Stars FC chairman Mr. Mandla Sikhosana also weighed in on the recent changes saying they will stay on another season. He had previously hinted on leaving the league towards the end of the 2025/2026 season. ‘We will continue with the league since it will now be playing around Mkhondo. Maybe the transport will be affordable this season.”

As the 2026/27 campaign gets under way this weekend, attention will turn to which sides can dominate their streams and advance through the promotional playoffs toward the next level of South African football.

The six new streams are structured as follows:

Stream A: Based in Govan Mbeki Local Municipality and Dipaleseng Local Municipality (14 teams).

Stream B: Based in Lekwa Local Municipality and Dr Pixley ka Seme Local Municipality (9 teams).

Stream C: Based in Msukaligwa Local Municipality (9 teams).

Stream D: Based in Mkhondo Local Municipality (9 teams).

Stream E: Based in Chief Albert Luthuli Local Municipality (9 teams).

Stream F: Based in Chief Albert Luthuli Local Municipality (8 teams).