The Gauteng Development League fixture list threw up a tasty showdown on Sunday, with the Engen Champs of Champs winners, Kaizer Chiefs, hosting the defending GDL champions, Mamelodi Sundowns, in a battle between the teams occupying the top two places on the log at Kaizer Chiefs Village in Naturena.
The Phefeni Glamour Boys entered the match with considerable momentum following their Engen Champs of Champs victory, in which they defeated Mpumalanga’s EastHigh Boys Academy to lift the trophy.
However, they had to quickly turn their attention to the GDL, where they had recently slipped up. After leading the standings for a long time, they had ceded first place to Sundowns.
With the Brazilians on the charge, a victory at Chiefs’ home would create a little distance between them and their title challengers.
In a tight clash, Sundowns edged out Kaizer Chiefs, winning 1-0 to open up a three-point advantage over Chiefs, with 62 to their name, while also having two games in hand. Win those, and they’ll go nine points clear.
On Saturday, third-placed Randburg drew 1-1 against Highlands Park. The following day, Randburg travelled to Pretoria for a key clash against fourth-placed Rockefvs at Clapham High School, Sundowns’ home venue.
A ninth-minute goal by Katlego Matlou decided the contest 1-0 in Rockefvs’ favour. It was a swift bounce-back from the Pretoria club, which had gone down 1-3 against Wits Juniors on Saturday at Marks Park.
East Rand Athletic Club, which struggled at the start of the season, has experienced a turnaround since its acquisition by Pitso Mosimane Youth Football (PMYF). Since then, the club has climbed from the bottom of the table to seventh in the current standings.
On Saturday, they scored a 1-0 victory over the Remember Elite Sport Academy (RESA).
Despite the loss, RESA stayed in fifth place, while Siwelele, after a 0-0 draw with Seven’s Academy, occupies sixth place with 42 points, just one behind RESA.
The University of Pretoria (Tuks) won at home on Saturday, beating the Africa School of Excellence 2-1. They then made it a six-point haul for the weekend by scoring a slim 1-0 win over the Prestige Football Development Academy in a match that had been rescheduled.
Prestige, nonetheless, picked up three points, producing a strong performance in a convincing 3-0 victory over Joburg City on Saturday.
Jomo Cosmos recorded a 3-1 win over Panorama, while Kathorus Hyper Academy and Future of Africa drew 1-1.
RESULTS
Saturday, 10 October
u19
Prestige 3-0 Joburg City
Jomo Cosmos 3-1 Panorama
Randburg 1-1 Highlands Park
Kathorus 1-1 Future of Africa
Wits 3-1 Rockefvs
Siwelele 0-0 Seven’s Academy
Tuks 2-1 Africa School of Excellence
PMYF 1-0 RESA
u17
Joburg City 4-2 Prestige
Panorama 1-0 Jomo Cosmos
Highlands Park 2-1 Randburg
Kathorus 2-2 Future of Africa
Wits 1-1 Rockefvs
Siwelele 1-0 Seven’s Academy
PMYF 2-1 RESA
Tuks 2-2 Africa School of Excellence
u15
Prestige 2-2 Joburg City
Jomo Cosmos 4-2 Panorama
Highlands Park 2-2 Randburg
Kathorus 3-0 Future of Africa
Wits 1-1 Rockefvs
Siwelele 4-2 Seven’s Academy
Africa School of Excellence 2-0 Tuks
u14
Prestige 2-2 Joburg City
Panorama 3-3 Jomo Cosmos
Highlands Park 2-1 Randburg
Future of Africa 0-0 Kathorus
Wits 1-1 Rockefvs
Siwelele 3-2 Seven’s Academy
Tuks 1-0 Africa School of Excellence
PMYF 1-0 RESA
u13
Panorama 2-0 Jomo Cosmos
Highlands Park 2-0 Randburg
Future of Africa 3-1 Kathorus
Wits 3-1 Rockefvs
Seven’s Academy 1- Siwelele
Sunday, 11 October
u19
Tuks 1-0 Prestige
Rockefvs 1-0 Randburg
Mamelodi Sundowns 1-0 Kaizer Chiefs
u17
Prestige 3-2 Tuks
Rockefvs 1-0 Randburg
Mamelodi Sundowns 4-2 Kaizer Chiefs
u15
Prestige 4-1 Tuks
Rockefvs 2-1 Randburg
Mamelodi Sundowns 2-1 Kaizer Chiefs
u14
Tuks 5-0 Prestige
Rockefvs 0-0 Randburg
Kaizer Chiefs 6-0 Mamelodi Sundowns
Future of Africa 1-0 RESA
u13
Randburg 4-1 Rockefvs
