Almost every team has played 20 of the 34 rounds of fixtures that have been scheduled in the 2024 Gauteng Development League. Currently, Kaizer Chiefs sit atop the standings in the under-19 division.
Mamelodi Sundowns, through circumstances beyond their control, have ceded top spot to their rivals, but the title race remains tight.
Ongama Gcwabe of SuperSport Schools Plus highlights three real title contenders as the league draws towards its business end.
Kaizer Chiefs
Ten weeks have passed since Kaizer Chiefs walked away from a Gauteng Development League fixture without a point. That happened when the Amakhosi crossed swords with coach Surprise Moriri‘s outstanding Mamelodi Sundowns unit.
Since then, Chiefs have run through almost every opponent they have faced, and that long line of successes has included handing Sundowns a first defeat of the season in the Engen Knockout Challenge. As a result, coach David Mathebula‘s side has moved to the top of table.
Chiefs have won 16 of their 20 games, drawn three and lost only once, leaving them on 51 points. Mathebula’s charges have also scored at an average of almost three goals per match and conceded an average of one a game.
Mamelodi Sundowns
Coach Moriri and his team will be slightly disappointed. They’re currently second in the standings, more than halfway through the season, yet they have not yet lost a league fixture.
However, their campaign’s momentum has been slowed by the postponement of Sundowns’ fixtures over the past two weekends.
Most recently, issues with the facilities at Huntersfield Stadium meant that ‘Downs could not play their fixture against Kathorus Hyper Academy. A week before that, their match at Clapham High against Randburg AFC was postponed because the school was using its facilities for a tournament outside of the Gauteng Development League.
Still, although they trail Chiefs by a point, the Brazilians are well poised to take over at the top once more, with two matches in hand.
Highlands Park
“The Lions of the North” were down and out in the first few weeks of the season as they failed to fire at the start of their campaign.
At one point, looking at their conservative style of play on the pitch, it seemed that their status as the defending champions was weighing heavily on the players’ shoulders.
Their conservative style of play early in the season helped them put together the league’s best defensive record. They’ve given up only nine goals all season long, but that approach has also meant that goal-scoring has not come easy.
While they’ve netted 31 times, that mark is some way behind the aforementioned title contenders. A six-goal deluge against Remember Elite Sport Academy (RESA) in their most recent outing, however, shows that Highlands Park is on the right track.
Since their slow start, the Balfour Park-based club has dug deep and worked their way back into the top three on the log. With 14 victories in 18 games, they’re only six points adrift of the leaders, Kaizer Chiefs.
Match Day 19 Results
TS Galaxy 3-0 East Rand Athletic Club
SuperSport United 0-2 Tuks
Sevens Academy 4-2 Wits Junior
School of Excellence 0-2 Highlands Park
Rosina Sedibane Modiba Sports School vs Joburg City (postponed)
RESA 1-2 Jomo Cosmos
Randburg AFC 0-2 Kaizer Chiefs
Panorama FC 2-0 Kathorus Hyper Academy
NWU Vaal FC 0-5 Mamelodi Sundowns
Match Day 20 Results
East Rand Athletic Club 3-2 SuperSport United
TS Galaxy 4-1 Sevens Academy
Tuks 2-1 School of Excellence
Wits Junior 2-1 Rosina Sedibane Modiba Sports School
Highlands Park 6-0 RESA
Joburg City 2-0 Randburg AFC
Jomo Cosmos 1-0 Panorama FC
Kaizer Chiefs 3-0 NWU Vaal FC
Kathorus Hyper Academy vs Mamelodi Sundowns (Postponed due to facility issues)
SuperSport Schools Plus
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