When NFL folded after 18 years in 1977, it was superseded by a non-racial league. The South African Home Office took no action having been convinced by Arcadia Shepherds that the story would be told all around the world and cast the ruling party in a bad light. Highlands Park protested Julius' presence but the NFL allowed him to play. The first to do so was Vincent Julius, he represented Arcadia Shepherds in 1976 versus Highlands Park. However, black players did participate in the competition. Germiston Callies played a non-white team, Black Pirates in Maseru, Lesotho. An NFL XI lost to a Rhodesian XI 2-6, at the Raylton Sports ground. However a few NFL teams traveled to neighboring countries to play friendlies.1961 Durban City beat a multi-racial Salisbury Combined XI 8-2 at the Glamis Stadium. The league was competitive during the apartheid era, and only white players were allowed to participate. An NFL Division II was established in 1969, with the Champions promoted to Division I. The League kicked-off on 4 July 1959 (only one round was played).Ī promotion play-off for the Champions of the various State Leagues was introduced in 1962, and the league spread to Cape Town (1962), Bloemfontein (1963) and Port Elizabeth (1964). Natal (3 teams)-Durban City, Durban United & Maritzburg Celtic. The teams that joined the league in 1959 were-Transvaal (9 teams)-Rangers, Germiston Callies, Arcadia Shepherds, Benoni United, Randfontein, Pretoria City, Brakpan United, Johannesburg City & Southern Park. Initially, only two areas of South Africa were represented - Transvaal and Durban - but gradually the league became more geographically representative. The SAFA was a member of FIFA at the time. At first the NFL received stiff opposition from the SAFA, the amateur governing body which controlled the major football grounds in the county.
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The National Football League (NFL) was the first professional association football league in South Africa, established in 1959. Football league National Football League Founded