SuperSport Schools News | Relegation battle heats up, while Kaizer Chiefs lifts the U14 GDL title

Kaizer Chiefs’ U14s celebrated winning the GDL title after a 2-0 win over Joburg City on Sunday, 18 October. Photo: **Kaizer Chiefs.**

The Gauteng Development League (GDL) season is nearing its conclusion, with titles, promotion, and relegation drawing the spotlight.

While some clubs fight for survival and try to avoid relegation, the first title of the season was decided when Kaizer Chiefs’ U14 squad beat Joburg City 2-0 on Sunday to bag three points and the U14 GDL honours.

Amakhosi lifted the crown with three matches in hand, underlining a dominant campaign.

Last year, the young Phefeni Glamour Boys also won the U14 title, while Mamelodi Sundowns lifted the U13, U15, U17, and U19 GDL titles, which was evidence of the Brazilians‘ outstanding development structures.

Catch the GDL action LIVE on SuperSport Schools

This season, after 31 matches, the Kaizer Chiefs U14 side has 86 points. Mamelodi Sundowns has two games in hand, but they’re 16 points behind Chiefs, with 70 after 29 outings. Even if Sundowns won all of their remaining matches, they would finish on 85 points.

The race is on – Chiefs vs Sundowns

In the U15 division, there is next to nothing between Kaizer Chiefs and Mamelodi Sundowns. Chiefs are one point behind Sundowns, with 76 points to the Brazilians’ 77, although Sundowns also has a game in hand.

Chiefs and Sundowns are well clear of their nearest challenger, Seven’s Academy, which is in third with 54 points. With four matches left to play, they can’t catch the big two.

Kaizer Chiefs secured the Engen Champions of Champions title earlier in October and is in the thick of the GDL U19 title race. Photo: **Engen Sports on Facebook**.

In the U17 division, the primary title contenders are again Kaizer Chiefs and Mamelodi Sundowns.

After 29 matches, Mamelodi Sundowns leads with 73 points, while Kaizer Chiefs has 71 points. A single Sundowns’ defeat could reverse the order of the standings at the top.

The Amakhosi’s previous best outcome in the U17 division is a second-place finish. They’re targeting first place with a laser focus.

Last weekend, Kaizer Chiefs moved back to the top of the U19 division following Mamelodi Sundowns’ defeat to Pitso Mosimane Youth Football on Sunday.

However, the defending champions have two matches in hand, with five matches to play compared to Kaizer Chiefs’ three. Both currently have 65 points, with goal difference separating them.

The Phefeni Glamour Boys’ U19 side is targeting a fourth 2026 title. They previously won the GDL Top 8, the Gauteng Engen Knockout Challenge, and, at the beginning of October, the Engen Champs of Champs.

Bidding Adeu: Four clubs to pack their bags

This season, four clubs will be relegated. In the GDL, the combined results of clubs across all the age groups are taken into account to determine which clubs go down.

In previous seasons, two clubs were relegated, with two clubs promoted from the Gauteng Development Promotional League (GDPL).

This season, the annual youth FIFA World Cups impacted scheduling, once again resulting in the GDL Youth Cup, last contested in 2023, not being played. Consequently, league organisers decided earlier in 2026 that four teams would be relegated.

TS Galaxy, which was suspended from the GDL due to a disciplinary matter involving the use of an ineligible player in a match against East Rand Athletic Club, will return to the GDL.

Hellenic Falcons lead the overall standings in the GDPL, with their teams having compiled 263 points thus far. They’re far ahead of Bracken City, which has 206 points, so the Falcons are GDL-bound.

Only two more games remain in the GPDL season, which concludes on 31 October. While TS Galaxy and Hellenic Falcons will move up to the GDL, the league will be reduced to 16 teams. That’s a response to the scheduling challenges and will allow for more efficient management of the season.

Following a **takeover of East Rand Athletic Club, Pitso Mosimane Youth Football** has quickly reversed the club’s fortunes and is currently fourth in the overall GDL standings. Photo: **Pitso Mosimane Youth Football**.

Among the clubs that could be relegated is Highlands Park, which has accumulated 140 points across all divisions. Although they’re two places above the relegation zone, they remain vulnerable to demotion.

Over the past three seasons, Highlands Park was a dominant force, with their U19 side winning the title in 2023 and 2024, and finishing second in 2025. This season has been far more challenging for the Lions of the North. After 31 games, they’re tenth in the standings.

Jomo Cosmos has gathered 136 points. Rockefvs, despite their U19 team performing well and holding down fourth place, could face relegation, as the club has accumulated only 131 points in total.

Following their promotion in 2025, Prestige Football Development Academy could face an immediate return to the GDPL. They’re just above the league’s lowest-ranked club.

Prestige has 120 points and is four points behind Seven’s Academy, whose U19 side has endured an arduous campaign. They’re currently bottom of the standings, with only 22 points from their 31 matches, having recorded five victories, seven draws, and 19 defeats.

Wits Juniors, another prominent organisation, appears likely to make the drop to the GDPL. They’re at the bottom of the overall standings with 116 points.

Africa School of Excellence, formerly known as the Transnet School of Excellence, is not safe. Despite the institution’s distinguished legacy of developing elite players, including Relebohile Mofokeng, Siyabonga Mabena, and Kutlwano Letlhaku, they’ve fallen off the pace since 2023.

They’re just one point ahead of Highlands Park. It’s a worrying situation for a club that has historically contributed substantial talent to the professional ranks.

Following the school’s acquisition by Chipcor Developers in 2025, a Chippa Holdings subsidiary owned by Chippa Mpengesi, proprietor of the Premier Soccer League (PSL) club Chippa United, Africa School of Excellence has undertaken a reconstruction programme.

The appointment of Dan Malesela as Head of Football Development in August represents a strategic move, bringing an accomplished South African coach and former player with prior experience managing Chippa United into the fold.

FIXTURES

Saturday, 24 October

15:00
Jomo Cosmos vs Highlands Park
Kathorus vs Wits Juniors
Mamelodi Sundowns vs Tuks
Panorama vs Siwelele
Prestige vs Seven’s Academy
Randburg vs Africa School of Excellence
RESA vs Rockefvs
Kaizer Chiefs vs PMYF

Sunday, 25 October

15:00
Future of Africa vs Joburg City
Siwelele vs Kaizer Chiefs
Mamelodi Sundowns vs RESA

Gauteng Development League (GDL) Overall Standings: Thursday, 22 October

Pos	Academy/Club	U14 Points	U15 Points	U17 Points	U19 Points	TOTAL
1	Kaizer Chiefs	86	76	74	65	301
2	Mamelodi Sundowns	70	77	73	65	285
3	Kathorus Hyper Academy	65	39	61	44	209
4	PMYF	41	46	43	47	177
5	Siwelele	62	35	32	44	173
6	RESA	41	36	48	47	172
7	Panorama	44	35	56	35	170
8	Joburg City	43	34	56	35	168
9	Randburg	44	34	34	54	166
10	Future of Africa	57	42	32	33	164
11	Tuks	48	41	38	27	154
12	Africa School of Excellence	30	44	39	28	141
13	Highlands Park	36	39	28	37	140
14	Jomo Cosmos	41	34	20	41	136
15	Rockefvs	24	32	26	49	131
16	Seven’s Academy	25	54	23	22	124
17	Prestige	15	27	41	37	120
18	Wits Juniors	8	29	40	39	116

About
Latest Posts

Siya Pongco

A passionate reader and dedicated writer, Siya possesses three degrees from Rhodes University including a Postgraduate Diploma at Rhodes University. He also played amateur cricket and soccer, both during his university years. While honing his journalism skills at Grocott’s Mail in Makhanda, he developed a profound interest in the community’s response to crime. Additionally, he covered topics such as art/culture and student politics at Rhodes University in 2022. In his spare time, Siya can be found exploring galleries, dining at restaurants, indulging in literature, taking photographs or savouring his favourite dish, spaghetti.