The Peculiar People’s Soccer League (PPSL) playoffs roared to life yesterday, immediately delivering drama, goals, and heartbreak for two teams whose 2025 journeys came to an abrupt end.

Two high-stakes matches decided who would move forward, and by the final whistle, Faith and Peace were sent packing, while Grace and Light booked their spots in the next round.

The opening playoff clash saw Faith square off against Grace in a contest that began with early promise for both sides. John Paul put Faith ahead in the 10th minute, but that would be their only bright moment of the day.

Grace wasted no time responding. James found the equalizer in the 14th minute, Segun added another in the 21st with an assist from Oscar, and Elliot sealed the deal in the 32nd, assisted by James. Faith fought hard but couldn’t find their footing against Grace’s composed play.

Rough tackles earned yellow cards for Faith’s Sola and Samson, as well as Grace’s Oscar, but the scoreboard told the real story: Grace 3 – Faith 1.

For Faith, the loss stung, but as seasoned fans know, they’ve been on first-name terms with defeat throughout the regular season, making this exit perhaps a little easier to swallow.

Then came the match that everyone’s talking about. Peace, who had shown flashes of brilliance earlier in the season, were utterly overwhelmed by Light’s relentless attack.

No one could have described what happened better than one of the spectators, Daniel Azijekwe, popularly known as Biggie, who quipped: “Light piecessed Peace.”

The pun captured the sheer collapse of Peace’s game. It was as if Light shone so brightly, they generated volcanic solar energy that wrapped Peace in a blinding aurora, slowly disintegrating their defensive fabric until the team simply fell apart.

Musa opened the scoring for Light with a penalty in the 4th minute, and from there it was a masterclass in domination. Delight in the 18th, Praise in the 23rd, and another from Musa in the 30th left Peace scrambling.

Preston gave Peace a glimmer of hope with a 37th-minute strike assisted by Remi, but Tommy’s 41st-minute goal for Light slammed the door shut.

Peace even missed a penalty, adding insult to injury.

Hassan for Peace and Bello for Light each received yellow cards for rough tackles, but the damage was long done. The final score was Light 5 – Peace 1, and with that, Peace’s season came to an unceremonious end, one they’ll want to forget quickly.

The semifinals are now set for Saturday, August 16 at Norseman Park, with Joy FC facing Grace FC at 8:30 a.m., followed by Love FC against Light FC at 10:00 a.m. From there, the winners will advance to the grand final, while the others will contest the third-place match. 
And if you thought the action would only be on the pitch, think again. Right after the first semifinal, from 9:30 to 10:00 a.m., PPSL will host a juggling contest. If you can juggle a ball at least 50 times, you’re invited to register at the link below before Friday, August 14:

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/10zBPF9cnyFoUa0r3RdZZEzcqLEV9OOF5ePp-gmY4AOg/edit 

Spots are limited, so jugglers, now is your time to shine:

In a historic moment for the league, both the 3rd Place Match and the Grand Final will be played inside the iconic Mosaic Stadium on Saturday, August 23, with the 3rd place kick-off at 8:30 a.m. and the final at 10:00 a.m., followed by an on-field trophy and medal presentation immediately after the final whistle.

Players are encouraged to invite friends and families to join in the stands for this unforgettable morning of soccer, spirit, and celebration. Yes, you read that right! PPSL will be playing at Mosaic Stadium, and the call is out to fill those seats.

The festivities will continue with the league’s first-ever PPSL Award Night on Thursday, August 28, from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at 1771 Bond Street in Regina.

This exclusive evening for players will recognize excellence on and off the pitch, celebrate collective achievements, and thank the volunteers who made this season a success. Awards to be presented include the Golden Boot for the top goalscorer, Golden Glove for the best goalkeeper, Golden Ball for the player of the tournament, and MVP for the most valuable player.

With smart or formal dress expected, guests can look forward to an evening of good food, great drinks, and even greater memories.

The PPSL 2025 playoffs have begun with fireworks, and now the countdown to the grand finale is officially on.