OK League
Encyclopedia
The OK League was an South African association football league. It was the second tier on the South African football league system, and teams who won the division, were promoted to the NSL Castle League
.
(founded in 1985 and developed into Premier Soccer League
in 1996), the first non-racial Second Level of South African football, was only established in March 1987 as the OK League. A league founded as the one and only competing division in South Africa, for promotion/relegation to and from the topflight NSL Castle League
.
Already in 1978, there was a merger of the topflight NFL
and NPSL
, to form the first non-racial division for the First Level of South African football. The new common topflight league, was named NPSL Castle League
in 1978-84, and renamed to NSL Castle League
in 1985-95. In the early years from 1978-1986, relegation/promotion to and from the topflight non-racial football league, according to official records actually did happen, but apparently it still happened from a Second Level league structure, divided into whites/blacks/coloureds.
In the earliest 3 seasons of the first non-racial Second Level division, the OK League in 1987 + 1988 + 1989, it was organised as one division with 17 teams. As it had become too expensive to operate a single league, the following season in 1990 introduced two separate divisions, known as the ‘O’ and ‘K’ Streams - each comprising 20 clubs. Soon the league was further developed into four geographical streams (Northern, Southern, Eastern Cape/Natal and Western Cape), each comprising 19 clubs.
When the new topflight Premier Soccer League
was established in 1996, the organizers at the same time for the Second Level, replaced the former OK League with the new National First Division
. Apart from a new name and a better sponsor deal, the most significant change -both at the First and Second Level- was to change the fixture schedule from yearly seasons, into the more commonly used International standard of September-May seasons.
Source:
National Soccer League (South Africa)
The National Soccer League was a South African association football league established in 1985, as a response to boardroom disagreements in the new topflight non-racial league NPSL...
.
History
More sources are needed, in order to clarify the exact lifespan of the OK League. In order to avoid confusion, it should be noted that the "OK League", in that sense only was the sponsor name of the "NSL 2.Division". According to the organiser and owner of the topflight NSL Castle LeagueNational Soccer League (South Africa)
The National Soccer League was a South African association football league established in 1985, as a response to boardroom disagreements in the new topflight non-racial league NPSL...
(founded in 1985 and developed into Premier Soccer League
Premier Soccer League
Premier Soccer League is the trading name of the National Soccer League of South Africa. The top league is the ABSA Premiership, sponsored by ABSA...
in 1996), the first non-racial Second Level of South African football, was only established in March 1987 as the OK League. A league founded as the one and only competing division in South Africa, for promotion/relegation to and from the topflight NSL Castle League
National Soccer League (South Africa)
The National Soccer League was a South African association football league established in 1985, as a response to boardroom disagreements in the new topflight non-racial league NPSL...
.
Already in 1978, there was a merger of the topflight NFL
National Football League (South Africa)
The National Football League was the first professional association football league in South Africa. It was established in 1959, and was accompanied by a NFL Division II and NFL Division III in 1961 . The league was competitive during the apartheid era, and only white players were allowed to...
and NPSL
National Premier Soccer League (South Africa)
The National Premier Soccer League was the title of a South African association football league, between 1971 and 1995. During those years, the league however had three completely different organisations. In 1971-77 it was only for Black South African teams...
, to form the first non-racial division for the First Level of South African football. The new common topflight league, was named NPSL Castle League
National Premier Soccer League (South Africa)
The National Premier Soccer League was the title of a South African association football league, between 1971 and 1995. During those years, the league however had three completely different organisations. In 1971-77 it was only for Black South African teams...
in 1978-84, and renamed to NSL Castle League
National Soccer League (South Africa)
The National Soccer League was a South African association football league established in 1985, as a response to boardroom disagreements in the new topflight non-racial league NPSL...
in 1985-95. In the early years from 1978-1986, relegation/promotion to and from the topflight non-racial football league, according to official records actually did happen, but apparently it still happened from a Second Level league structure, divided into whites/blacks/coloureds.
In the earliest 3 seasons of the first non-racial Second Level division, the OK League in 1987 + 1988 + 1989, it was organised as one division with 17 teams. As it had become too expensive to operate a single league, the following season in 1990 introduced two separate divisions, known as the ‘O’ and ‘K’ Streams - each comprising 20 clubs. Soon the league was further developed into four geographical streams (Northern, Southern, Eastern Cape/Natal and Western Cape), each comprising 19 clubs.
When the new topflight Premier Soccer League
Premier Soccer League
Premier Soccer League is the trading name of the National Soccer League of South Africa. The top league is the ABSA Premiership, sponsored by ABSA...
was established in 1996, the organizers at the same time for the Second Level, replaced the former OK League with the new National First Division
National First Division
The National First Division is the second-highest league of South African club football after the Premier Soccer League . Both the NFD and PSL are organised by the National Soccer League.-For seasons in 2007-11:...
. Apart from a new name and a better sponsor deal, the most significant change -both at the First and Second Level- was to change the fixture schedule from yearly seasons, into the more commonly used International standard of September-May seasons.
Winners
| Season | Winner (promoted to NSL) | Also promoted to NSL |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 | QwaQwa Stars | Klerksdorp City |
| 1986 | Leeds United | Blackpool Port Elizabeth Blackpool Port Elizabeth Blackpool were a South African football club from Port Elizabeth, who played their last season in 1991.... |
| 1987 | Cape Town Spurs | Umtata Bush Bucks, Natal United |
| 1988 | Mighty Blackpool Port Elizabeth Blackpool Port Elizabeth Blackpool were a South African football club from Port Elizabeth, who played their last season in 1991.... |
Vaal Reef Stars |
| 1989 | Umtata Bush Bucks | Halls Dynamos, Pretoria City |
| 1990 | African Wanderers African Wanderers African Wanderers is a South African football club, based in the Chatsworth township, which is a suburb of Durban in South Africa. The club currently play in the KwaZulu-Natal province of Vodacom League, and prefer to use the SJ Smith Stadium as home venue.... |
Highlands Park FC Highlands Park FC Highlands Park F.C. was an association football club in Johannesburg , that existed from November 1959 to February 1983. In 1971, Highlands Park FC merged together with Powerlines FC from Nigel -a city located 61 km southeast of Highlands North in Johannesburg, and also playing in the top... , and the 6 highest ranked FPL teams: Real Taj, Tongaat Crusaders United, Bosmont Chelsea Santos Santos Football Club (South Africa) Santos Football Club or simply Santos, also known under their sponsored title as Engen Santos, is a professional South African football club based in Lansdowne, Cape Town that plays in the Premier Soccer League.-History:... , Manning Rangers, Dangerous Darkies Dangerous Darkies Dangerous Darkies is a former South African association football club. The club played in the National Soccer League from 1991–92. The club were from Nelspruit.-League Placing:... . |
| 1991 | Cape Town Spurs | Ratanang Mahlosians |
| 1992 | Vaal Professionals Vaal Professionals Vaal Professionals were a South African football club based in Vereeniging which was a founder member of the Premier Soccer League in 1996... |
D'Alberton Callies |
| 1993 | Real Rovers | Royal Tigers |
| 1994 | African Wanderers African Wanderers African Wanderers is a South African football club, based in the Chatsworth township, which is a suburb of Durban in South Africa. The club currently play in the KwaZulu-Natal province of Vodacom League, and prefer to use the SJ Smith Stadium as home venue.... |
Jomo Cosmos Jomo Cosmos Jomo Cosmos is a South African football club based in Johannesburg that plays in the Premier Soccer League. The club is owned and coached by South African soccer legend Jomo "Black Prince" Sono.... and Rabali Blackpool Rabali Blackpool Rabali Blackpool are a former South African football club.The club was previously known as Michau Warriors until it was purchased by Peter Rabali. Rabali relocated the club to Thohoyandou and renamed the club to Rabali Blackpool.-League History:... |
Second Division
| Year | Winners | Region |
|---|---|---|
| 1995 | Camps Bay Camps Bay Camps Bay is an affluent suburb of Cape Town, South Africa. In summer it attracts a large number of foreign visitors as well as South Africans looking for a beach holiday. It is renowned for its white sandy beaches fringed by palm trees and has a trendy nightlife.-History:The first residents of... |
Western Cape Western Cape The Western Cape is a province in the south west of South Africa. The capital is Cape Town. Prior to 1994, the region that now forms the Western Cape was part of the much larger Cape Province... |
| Pretoria City (Promoted) | Northern Transvaal | |
| Crystal Brains (Promoted) | Kwazulu-Natal KwaZulu-Natal KwaZulu-Natal is a province of South Africa. Prior to 1994, the territory now known as KwaZulu-Natal was made up of the province of Natal and the homeland of KwaZulu.... |
|
| Stocks Birds | Northwest Region North West Cape North West Cape is a large peninsula of land in the north west coast of Western Australia. Cape Range runs down the spine of the peninsula and Ningaloo Reef runs along the western edge... |
|
| 1996/1997 | Santos Santos Football Club (South Africa) Santos Football Club or simply Santos, also known under their sponsored title as Engen Santos, is a professional South African football club based in Lansdowne, Cape Town that plays in the Premier Soccer League.-History:... (Promoted) |
Western Cape |
| Black Leopards Black Leopards Black Leopards are a South African football club based in Makhado, Limpopo that plays in the Premier Soccer League.-History:The club was founded in 1983 by business people in Venda. In 1998 the club was taken over by the Thidiela family... |
Northern region | |
| African Wanderers African Wanderers African Wanderers is a South African football club, based in the Chatsworth township, which is a suburb of Durban in South Africa. The club currently play in the KwaZulu-Natal province of Vodacom League, and prefer to use the SJ Smith Stadium as home venue.... (Promoted) |
Natal/Eastern/Cape | |
| Tembisa Classic | Southern region | |
Source: