The Gauteng Development League (GDL) concludes on Saturday, when the GDL champions in the different age groups will be crowned.
Others, at the opposite end of the table, will bid farewell to the league and transition to the second tier of the GDL, the Gauteng Promotional Development League (GDPL).
The 2025 champions, Mamelodi Sundowns, head into the weekend as the champions-elect following a decisive showing last weekend, during which they scored a 4-0 victory over Siwelele and a 3-2 win against Remember Elite Sport Academy.
In their match against Siwelele on Saturday, Inganathi Simama and Zayyaan Nizamdin showcased their skills.
Although Simama did not score, he played a pivotal role by providing three assists. His first came just seven minutes into the match, setting up Nizamdin, who netted the first of his hat-trick of goals.
Twenty-three minutes later, Simama and Nizamdin teamed up again for the Brazilians‘ second goal. Then, just before the break, Simama set up Junior Maseou for Sundowns’ third goal.
Nizamdin completed his hat trick in the 78th minute, with Ntokozo Madondo supplying the assist.
Catch the final action of the GDL LIVE on SuperSport Schools
In their match against RESA on Sunday, Tukisho Makola, Kgaogelo Monanyane, and Maseou netted in a hard-fought 3-2 victory.
Kaizer Chiefs is in second place, but cannot catch Sundowns. A victory for the Phefeni Glamour Boys against the University of Pretoria (Tuks) on Saturday at the University of Pretoria would elevate Chiefs to 72 points, still two points behind Sundowns, who face the team at the bottom of the standings, Seven’s Academy, at the Tuks Hillcrest Complex.
The U19 champions have been decided, while the first team to clinch league honours was the Kaizer Chiefs U14 side, which wrapped up the title last month.
Mamelodi Sundowns will successfully defend the U15 title. They’re on 87 points and cannot be overtaken. Kaizer Chiefs is in second, with 82 points before they play their last game.
The only title that has not yet been decided is in the U17 age group. With one match to go, Sundowns has 85 points, and Kaizer Chiefs has 83 points. If Sundowns lose and Chiefs win, they would flip positions.
At the top of the overall GDL standings, matters look bright for clubs such as Chiefs, Sundowns, Kathorus Hyper Academy, Pitso Mosimane Youth Football, RESA, and Panorama. However, for others at the opposite end of the standings, the situation is dire.
Four clubs will be relegated. The points their teams accumulate across all age groups determine whether they stay up.
Wits Juniors is at the bottom of the food chain with 118 points, and they’re going down. Seven’s Academy is in 17th position with 127 points, only three points behind the Prestige Football Development Academy, which has 130 points.
Only four points separate Jomo Cosmos and Rockefvs. Cosmos, in 15th place, has 139 points. If they don’t move above Rockefvs, they’re going down, too. Africa School of Excellence is in 13th place with 154 points. They appear to be safe.
With the GDL season nearing its end, GDL League Coordinator Mondli Dube told SuperSport Schools News that the competition has been highly competitive and challenging, reflecting the quality, growth, and development of the league.
Dube recently assumed the role of GDL League Coordinator, succeeding Muzi Shangase, who now holds the position of Football Operations Manager at the Balderstone Sports Institute (BSI) after a decade of service as the GDL Administrator.
In his new position, Dube said he has gained a fresh perspective on the league, particularly administration, competition management, and the obligation to ensure the GDL functions efficiently and professionally.
Challenges have arisen, he said. However, his primary focus has been to uphold the league’s integrity to ensure it continues to serve as a valuable platform for the development of young footballers.
Dube said that Shangase’s departure from his position with the South African Football Association (SAFA) Gauteng meant he [Dube] had to adjust, both professionally and personally.
“Having worked with him [Muzi Shangase] over the years, I had developed a strong working relationship with him. His experience, guidance, and understanding of the league were invaluable,” Dube said.
Serving as the GDL coordinator entails taking on considerable responsibility, he added, especially given the standards and expectations set during his previous term. Nevertheless, Dube understands the GDL structure, thanks to his previous role as the Administrator of the Gauteng Women’s Development League (GWDL).
The 2025 season had been remarkable, he reckoned. One of the most memorable moments that Dube recalled occurred in the U13 match between Future of Africa and Joburg City on 25 October. The contest ended in a 1-1 draw. What captured his attention, though, was the enthusiasm, resolve, and dedication exhibited by the young athletes throughout the game.
“It was one of those moments that reminded me why youth football is so important. Beyond the results, you could see the hunger, discipline, and desire of the boys to compete and represent their teams,” Dube explained.
Moments like those are rewarding, Dube said. “We are not simply organising fixtures and managing competitions, but we are contributing to the development of future footballers, and creating opportunities for young players to express themselves.
“That game between Future of Africa and Joburg City was a reminder that sometimes the most memorable moments in football are not necessarily about trophies or championships, but about the spirit of the game.”
The most captivating of all the age groups was the U19 league, with Siwelele bursting out of the blocks and into an early lead. Then, Rockefvs, one of the season’s surprise packages, displaced Siwelele at the top.
Subsequently, Kaizer Chiefs ascended to first place, only for Mamelodi Sundowns to overtake them. Briefly, they exchanged positions again. However, the Brazilians, with games in hand, won those to overtake the Amakhosi.
Dube remarked that the U19 division was particularly thrilling due to the title battle between Mamelodi Sundowns and Kaizer Chiefs, because both clubs have robust football identities, are ambitious, and have well-established development frameworks.
While they narrowly missed out on the GDL title, Kaizer Chiefs, coached by David Mathebula, put together an exceptional season, clinching the GDL Top 8 at the season’s outset, as well as the Gauteng Engen Knockout Challenge and the Engen Champs of Champs titles.
Mamelodi Sundowns’ consistency, their strength in depth, and their excellence as a development institution ensured they came out on top after a marathon season.
Dube said one of the most encouraging aspects of the season was how deeply clubs invested in their infrastructures, players, coaching, and overall football programmes. The GDL fulfilled its primary objective of nurturing young football talent, he added.
The relegation of Wits Juniors, Prestige, and Seven’s Academy also showed how competitive and ruthless the GDL competition can be.
Dube noted that the most significant surprise had been the pressure faced by established football institutions and academies. That included the team at the bottom of the standings, Wits Juniors (University of Witwatersrand), a name synonymous with football development and a strong institutional sporting culture.
“It also highlights the importance of preparation, squad management, and maintaining competitive standards throughout the season,” he said
“Ultimately, relegation is a part of football, but I believe every club involved has the opportunity to learn from the season and come back stronger,” he concluded.
RESULTS
31 October
u19 Results
Mamelodi Sundowns 4-0 Siwelele
Highlands Park 3-0 Panorama
Rockefvs 3-0 RESA
Kaizer Chiefs 2-1 Prestige
PMYF 2-0 Africa School of Excellence
u17 Results
Mamelodi Sundowns 3-0 Siwelele
Highlands Park 2-2 Panorama
Rockefvs 3-2 RESA
Kaizer Chiefs 5-0 Prestige
PMYF 3-0 Africa School of Excellence
u15 Results
Mamelodi Sundowns 3-1 Siwelele
Highlands Park 4-2 Panorama
Rockefvs 2-0 RESA
Prestige 2-1 Kaizer Chiefs
PMYF 1-1 Africa School of Excellence
u14 Results
Siwelele 1-1 Mamelodi Sundowns
Highlands Park 1-1 Panorama
Rockefvs 2-0 RESA
Prestige 0-0 Kaizer Chiefs
Africa School of Excellence 1-0 PMYF
u13 Results
Mamelodi Sundowns 1-0 Siwelele
Highlands Park 2-1 Panorama
RESA 7-1 Rockefvs
1 November
u19 Results
Mamelodi Sundowns 3-2 RESA
u17 Results
Mamelodi Sundowns 1-0 RESA
u15 Results
RESA 2-2 Mamelodi Sundowns
u14 Results
RESA 0-0 Mamelodi Sundowns
u13 Results
Mamelodi Sundowns 5-1 RESA
FIXTURES
Saturday, 7 November
15:30
Highlands Park vs Future of Africa
PMYF vs Joburg City
Wits Juniors vs Jomo Cosmos
Tuks vs Kaizer Chiefs
Siwelele vs Kathorus
Seven’s Academy vs Mamelodi Sundowns
Africa School of Excellence vs Panorama
Rockefvs vs Prestige
RESA vs Randburg
