Author: ongcwabe

The Gauteng region had its fair share of inclement weather over the weekend as rain, thunderstorms and lightning wiped several fixtures from the schedule.

NWU Vaal Academy and Wits Junior’s matches at the George Thabe Stadium were postponed. At the President Park Stadium, only the u13 fixture ran its course as the three other matches on the fixture list, between Remember Elite Sports Academy (RESA) and SuperSport United, were called off.

In Soweto, the u19 fixture between Kaizer Chiefs and Jomo Cosmos at Naturena was also postponed.

However, at Clapham High, the main fixture of the weekend – Mamelodi Sundowns vs Highlands Park – was played on Sunday.

Log leaders, Sundowns, with the advantage of playing at home, started the encounter at high intensity, which helped them take a 1-0 lead into the break. The goal came from a well-timed pass from Bennet Mokoena, which was met with a clinical finish from Ntokozo Siquba, to put the hosts in front.

The second half saw more of the same as the “Lions of the North” struggled to keep up with Sundowns.

When Mokoena sent in another accurate pass, this time finding Joy Mtyali in front of goal, Sundowns opened up a match-winning two-goal cushion.

With the win, they top the log with 15 points, just two clear of Rosina Sedibane Modiba Sports School, who beat Sevens Academy 3-1 on Saturday.

At the Randburg Sports Complex, TS Galaxy lost 3-4 to Randburg AFC, which allowed Rosina Sedibane to move above them in the standings.

At Huntersfield, Kathorus Hyper Academy suffered a 1-2 loss at home to Joburg City, who walked away with all three points from their Saturday showdown.

Match Day Six Results

u13
RESA 3-1 SuperSport United
Kathorus Hyper Academy 0-0 Joburg City
Mamelodi Sundowns 7-0 Highlands Park
Randburg AFC 1-1 TS Galaxy
Rosina Sedibane Modiba Sports School 0-2 Sevens Academy
NWU Vaal Academy vs Wits Junior (Postponed)
Kaizer Chiefs 7-0 Jomo Cosmos
Panorama FC 1-1 Tuks

u15
RESA vs SuperSport United (Postponed)
Kathorus Hyper Academy 0-1 Joburg City
Mamelodi Sundowns 6-4 Highlands Park
Randburg AFC 2-3 TS Galaxy
Rosina Sedibane Modiba Sports School 1-1 Sevens Academy
NWU Vaal Academy vs Wits Junior (Postponed)
Kaizer Chiefs 3-0 Jomo Cosmos
Panorama FC 2-0 Tuks

u17
RESA vs SuperSport United (Postponed)
Kathorus Hyper Academy 1-1 Joburg City
Mamelodi Sundowns 2-0 Highlands Park
Randburg AFC 2-4 TS Galaxy
Rosina Sedibane Modiba Sports School 1-2 Sevens Academy
NWU Vaal Academy vs Wits Junior (Postponed)
Kaizer Chiefs 3-2 Jomo Cosmos
Panorama FC 1-0 Tuks

u19
RESA vs SuperSport United (Postponed)
Kathorus Hyper Academy 1-2 Joburg City
Mamelodi Sundowns 2-0 Highlands Park
Randburg AFC 4-3 TS Galaxy
Rosina Sedibane Modiba Sports School 3-1 Sevens Academy
NWU Vaal Academy vs Wits Junior (Postponed)
Kaizer Chiefs vs Jomo Cosmos (Postponed)
Panorama FC 0-2 Tuks

The highly anticipated fixture between the current log leaders, Mamelodi Sundowns, and the defending champions, Highlands Park, headlines the sixth round of fixtures of the Gauteng Development League this weekend.

Year in and out, Sundowns are a dominant force. However, they have taken their standards to a whole new level in the opening rounds of fixtures this season, scoring an average of three goals per game during a four-match unbeaten streak to open their 2024 title challenge.

Forward Kamva Moni, with three goals thus far, has brought the X-factor to the “Ka bo Yellow” with his outstanding play in front of goal.

Meanwhile, “The Lions of the North“, Highlands Park, have had a tough start to their campaign. They won almost 80 percent of their league fixtures last season to be crowned the champions of the under-19 division, but the orange outfit has registered only a solitary victory thus far this season.

However, when it comes to facing Sundowns, the Balfour Park-based club almost always bring the right tempo and intensity to the fixture.

Last season, Highlands Park beat Sundowns 2-1 at home before Sundowns, the league runners-up, returned the favour, winning 1-0 in Tshwane.

In the 17-fixture-long 2022 season, Sundowns topped the table, with Highlands Park settling for the runners-up position. During that year, the sides drew 1-1 in their only meeting.

A year prior, Sundowns beat the Lions of the North 1-0 and finished third in the standings, with Highlands Park fourth on the log. There has been little to separate them in recent years.

The clubs meet once again at Clapham on Sunday in a fixture that will be broadcast live on DStv Channel 216 and via the SuperSport Schools app.

In other fixtures, the School of Excellence and Rosina Sedibane host the league’s newbies, East Rand Athletic Club and Sevens Academy, respectively on Saturday.

SuperSport United travels to the President Park Stadium for a showdown with Remember Elite Sports Academy (RESA) and TS Galaxy visits the Randburg Sports Complex to tackle Randburg AFC.

Tuks hosts Panorama FC, while NWU Vaal Academy will welcome Wits Junior to the George Thabethe Stadium on Saturday.

Joburg City goes to the Huntersfield Stadium to face Kathorus Hyper Academy, and Kaizer Chiefs faces Jomo Cosmos at the Naturena Village, also on Saturday.

The 2023 season of the Gauteng Development League saw three goalkeepers – Thandolwami Mthethwa, from Randburg AFC, and the Kaizer Chiefs‘ duo of Takalani Mazhamba and Mpho Moletsane – take centre stage.

Together, the trio combined for 18 clean sheets, and Mazhamba’s impressive form was rewarded with an under-17 national call-up for their tour of Morocco last year.

This season, after only five rounds of fixtures, a new set of exciting shot-stoppers has stepped into the spotlight.

The class of 2024 has kept at least one clean sheet in the opening rounds and includes Cedrigo Abogo (Kathorus Hyper Academy), Nhlakanipho Jele (RESA), Naphtali Mokoena (Kaizer Chiefs), Katleho Ramotlhabe (Highlands Park), Alex Chetty (TS Galaxy) and the Mamelodi Sundowns‘ pair of Lehlogonolo Mohlabine and Orabile Booysen.

However, 51 goals scored in 30 matches means that the forwards have also been in decent form early on in the season. The current log-leaders, Mamelodi Sundowns, have netted 12 times, while second-placed TS Galaxy have scored 11 goals.

On the list of top scorers, Sundowns’ rising star, Kamva Moni, leads the pack having struck three times this season, while Supersport United‘s Michael Alagiozoglou, Bohlale Ngwato and Manelisi Mazibuko have all netted twice this season.

Others on the top 10 list, who also have two goals to their names, are Chiefs’ Mpho Khethang, Kholofelo Masenamela (Randburg AFC), Nkululeko Salat (School of Excellence), Makhama Rantoa (TS Galaxy), Nkululeko Sekese (RESA), Keanan Schoefield (Joburg City), and Rosina Sedibane‘s Maholong Mosereng and Kgotso Sithole.

The competition for spots on the top performers’ list will intensify when the Gauteng Development League returns for match day 6 on Saturday, 6 April, with the action available on DStv Channel 216 and through the SuperSport Schools app on mobile devices.

Make sure you don’t miss out!

Google Play Store 📲: SuperSport Schools – Apps on Google Play
IOS App Store 📲: SuperSport Schools on the App Store (apple.com)
Web 💻: https://live.supersportschools.com

Randburg, a town that is just over an hour’s drive from where the Sharpeville Massacre occurred on 21 March 1960, hosted Joburg City Football Club on what is now celebrated as Human Rights Day for the fourth round of the Gauteng Development League.

The hosts, Randburg AFC, went into their clash in search of a victory following a 2-2 draw against Kaizer Chiefs the previous week, while Joburg City travelled to the Randburg Sports Complex a wounded unit after suffering a 2-4 loss at home against Rosina Sedibane on matchday three.

On Thursday, Randburg AFC forward, Siphosethu Buthelezi, playing on the left wing, caused all kinds of problems for the Joburg City defenders. Using his blistering speed and excellent right foot, he sliced past the opposition defenders, often cutting infield to create opportunities for the strikers.

Buthelezi executed the strategy to perfection and, at times, took it upon himself to have a go, but that was about the only thing that didn’t come off for the winger.

Despite the relentless pressure from the hosts, Joburg City were the first to score in the clash through a well-timed header from Khetheleo Ngcobo.

The goal came from a corner kick, which swung in from the right wing. Ngcobo positioned himself perfectly next to the left post where he outjumped the defenders to nod the ball into the back of the net.

Three minutes later, from a free kick, Randburg fired a shot on target. Under pressure from striker Mashiyane Sinamela, the Joburg City goalkeeper could not hang on to the shot and instead parried it back into play.

Sinamela, wearing the number nine jersey, demonstrated his predatory instincts by taking up a perfect position and meeting the ball with his right foot to equalise for the hosts on the stroke of half-time.

The deadlock was unbroken in the second half and the teams shared a 1-1 draw.

In Pretoria, an in-form SuperSport United under-19 unit hosted the East Rand Athletic Club at Eskom Megawatt Park. The hosts struck three goals while the visitors claimed a solitary consolation goal. United remain unbeaten after four rounds of fixtures.

NWU Vaal hosted Kaizer Chiefs at the George Thabe Stadium on Thursday. Unfortunately, their clash was abandoned due to a thunderstorm.

At President Park Stadium, home to Remember Elite Sports Academy (RESA), a waterlogged field prevented the match against Highlands Park from being played, which further hurt the champions’ chances of a reestablishing their dominance and successfully defending their league title.

At Elandsfontein, however, there were no issues as the School of Excellence drew 2-2 with Tuks, while Panorama FC and Jomo Cosmos settled for a goalless draw at the Panorama Sports Complex.

Sevens Academy pulled off an upset when they beat a strong TS Galaxy side 1-0 at the Alberton Football Club. Mamelodi Sundowns (1-0) and Rosina Sedibane (3-1) registered victories over Kathorus Hyper Academy and Wits Junior respectively.

Results

u13
Mamelodi Sundowns 4-1 Kathorus Hyper Academy
Rosina Sedibane 1-0 Wits Junior
SuperSport United 2-0 East Rand Athletic Club
Panorama 1-0 Jomo Cosmos
Remember Elite Sports Academy 1-1 Highlands Park
NWU Vaal Academy 1-7 Kaizer Chiefs
Randburg AFC vs Joburg City
Sevens Academy 0-2 TS Galaxy

u15
Mamelodi Sundowns 2-0 Kathorus Hyper Academy
Rosina Sedibane 7-1 Wits Junior
SuperSport United 2-2 East Rand Athletic Club
Panorama 3-0 Jomo Cosmos
Remember Elite Sports Academy 1-1 Highlands Park
NWU Vaal Academy 1-5 Kaizer Chiefs
Randburg AFC vs Joburg City
School of Excellence 3-2
Sevens Academy 1-2 TS Galaxy

u17
Mamelodi Sundowns 1-2 Kathorus Hyper Academy
Rosina Sedibane 3-1 Wits Junior
SuperSport United 5-0 East Rand Athletic Club
Panorama 1-3 Jomo Cosmos
Remember Elite Sports Academy vs Highlands Park (Abandoned, waterlogged field)
NWU Vaal Academy vs Kaizer Chiefs (Abandoned, thunderstorm)
Randburg AFC vs Joburg City
School of Excellence 2-3 Tuks
Sevens Academy 1-0 TS Galaxy

u19
Mamelodi Sundowns 1-0 Kathorus Hyper Academy
Rosina Sedibane 3-1 Wits Junior
SuperSport United 3-1 East Rand Athletic Club
Panorama 0-0 Jomo Cosmos
Remember Elite Sports Academy vs Highlands Park (Abandoned, waterlogged field)
NWU Vaal Academy vs Kaizer Chiefs (Abandoned, thunderstorm)
Randburg AFC 1-1 Joburg City
School of Excellence 2-2 Tuks
Sevens Academy 1-0 TS Galaxy

At last, the highly anticipated arrival of coach Tebello Kheswa‘s NWU Vaal on the big stage of the Gauteng Development League was witnessed, with the side travelling to Clapham to take on Mamelodi Sundowns on Saturday.

Kheswa’s newly promoted team was on a mission to prove to all the teams in the league and fans around the country that their victory over Sundowns in last season’s GDL Youth Cup was not a fluke.

On the other hand, Sundowns were itching to put the newbies in their place.

In the first half, NWU Vaal played their typical game, controlling possession and looking to control the pace of the encounter.

However, Sundowns knew precisely when to press their opposition. They often caught them off guard, overwhelming them with pressure, and they were then clinical in front of goal.

To open the Brazilians’ goal account, Junaid Seedaf converted a set piece (free kick) to give them a 1-0 advantage at the break.

In the second half, Sundowns stunned the league newcomers with five more goals, courtesy of a double by Kamva Moni, and further goals from Molemo Seemela, Ntokozo Siquba and Reitumetsi Motlhasedi, which powered the team from Pretoria to a big 6-0 victory.

After finishing in the top three last season, Sundowns look like a team that has gone back to the drawing board to address its shortcomings. Now, after three rounds of action, they’re top of the GDL log.

In other fixtures, Kathorus Hyper Academy and Panorama drew 2-2 at Hunterfield Stadium, with Koketso Tshwene shining for Kathorus Hyper.

At the Greek Sporting Club, Joburg City suffered a 2-4 loss at home to Rosina Sedibane, while in Pretoria, Manelisi Mazibuko and Tshepo Mahlatsi bagged two goals each to help SuperSport United to a 5-2 win over UP Tuks.

Highlands Park put a tick in the win column with a 2-1 victory over the School of Excellence at Balfour Park, while Jomo Cosmos lost 0-1 at home to Remember Elite Soccer Academy (RESA) as Nkululeko Sekese‘s goal secured the points for the visitors.

Sevens Academy drew 1-1 with Wits Junior at Marks Park, while Kaizer Chiefs were held to a 2-2 draw by Randburg AFC.

Results

u13
Kathorus Hyper Academy 3-3 Panorama
SuperSport United 1-2 UP Tuks
Jomo Cosmos 0-2 RESA
Joburg City vs Rosina Sedibane (Postponed, No match officials)
Sevens Academy 8-0 Wits Junior
Kaizer Chiefs 4-0 Randburg AFC

u15
Kathorus Hyper Academy 1-1 Panorama
SuperSport United 0-0 UP Tuks
Jomo Cosmos 1-2 RESA
Joburg City 2-1 Rosina Sedibane
Highlands Park 0-1 School of Excellence
Sevens Academy 1-1 Wits Junior
Kaizer Chiefs 2-2 Randburg AFC

Under 17
Kathorus Hyper Academy 1-0 Panorama
SuperSport United 0-0 UP Tuks
Jomo Cosmos 0-2 RESA
Joburg City 3-1 Rosina Sedibane
Highlands Park 1-0 School of Excellence
Sevens Academy 4-1 Wits Junior
Kaizer Chiefs 1-3 Randburg AFC

Under 19
Kathorus Hyper Academy 2-2 Panorama
SuperSport United 5-2 UP Tuks
Jomo Cosmos 0-1 RESA
Joburg City 2-4 Rosina Sedibane
Highlands Park 2-1 School of Excellence
Sevens Academy 1-1 Wits Junior
Kaizer Chiefs 2-2 Randburg AFC
Mamelodi Sundowns 6-0 NWU Vaal

Transitioning to higher and stronger leagues in any sport is a difficult process, and it is no different in football, which can be extremely unforgiving. The Gauteng Development League (GDL) is no exception.

Newly promoted teams quickly discover the steep rise in standards and intensity from the lower leagues to the top-flight competitions.

Regarded by many as Africa’s top development league, the GDL often dishes out harsh lessons and reality checks to newly promoted teams, and this season the NWU Vaal Academy and East Rand Athletic Club are attempting to establish themselves in the league. Neither has made the best of starts, for different reasons.

For NWU Vaal, an attempt to switch the team’s name to Mmabatho right at the start of their campaign was an untimely inconvenience. The back-and-forth discussions between the academy and SAFA Gauteng about the name switch led to coach Tebello Kheswa‘s team missing the opening two rounds. No reasons were forthcoming from SAFA Gauteng for NWU Vaal’s curious absence.

The matter has forced Kheswa and his players to wait a little longer to get onto the pitch, and for the fans, it has been a long wait to watch the highly regarded team from the Vaal. Now, it appears as if they will retain the NWU Vaal name and they will be in action on Saturday.

Remember, this is the same side that beat Mamelodi Sundowns in the GDL Youth Cup last year, on their way to the final of the same competition, where they fell short against coach David Mathebula‘s Kaizer Chiefs.

The delay to the start of NWU Vaal’s campaign could give Sundowns an edge over the league’s newbies, who might carry some rustiness into the contest, and who will need to build up their match fitness.

The state of the academy team will be revealed at Clapham High, where the four fixtures are set to get underway from 09:00 on Saturday, when the under-13s run out, through to the under-19s, at 14:00.

For fellow newcomers, the East Rand Athletic Club, life at the top has been about learning valuable lessons, even after they opened their league season with a win over Wits Junior.

Last weekend, they were involved in four tight clashes with Tuks, who won the u19 and u17 matches by identical 2-1 margins, while the u15 tie ended 1-1, and the u13s shared a 2-2 draw.

Although East Rand Athletic Club suffered a couple of losses, they were very competitive.

On Saturday, they face a red-hot TS Galaxy who recorded a couple of big victories over Wits Junior last week, with the u19s winning 5-1 and the u13s powering their way to a 6-0 win. The U15 and u17 games ended in draws.

In other fixtures, on Saturday, Highlands Park host the School of Excellence at Balfour Park, at Marks Park, Wits Junior will be keen to bounce back when they face Sevens Academy, while Joburg City is set to host Rosina Sedibane at the Greek Sporting Club.

Remember Elite Soccer Academy (RESA) will travel to the Jomo Cosmos 1^st Training Ground to lock horns with Jomo Cosmos.

Kaizer Chiefs host Randburg AFC at the Kaizer Chiefs Village, and Panorama visits Huntersfield for a date with Kathorus Hyper.

To close off the weekend, the only fixture to be played on Sunday will also be broadcast live on DStv Channel 216, with the Pretoria-based teams, Tuks and SuperSport United, doing battle at the University of Pretoria Sports Campus.

All the other fixtures will be broadcast live SuperSport Schools.

There is often something special about youngest siblings. Northwood‘s star basketball player, Lusanda Hlongwane, is the youngest of five boys in his Melville-based household and he is, undoubtedly, something special.

And, like the u19 Cricket World Cup Player of the Tournament, 17-year-old Kwena Maphaka, the younger brother of professional cricketer Tetelo Maphaka, the advantage that Hlongwane has over his peers is almost unheard of.

On a cricket field, Maphaka bowls at speeds and with skills that trouble his peers, while on the courts, Hlongwane dribbles, shoots, rebounds and passes with a level of efficiency that is usually seen only in the professional ranks.

Standing 6’5″ tall, at the tender age of 18, Hlongwane and Northwood have enjoyed a fairytale run since the 2024 team came together as the Stayers side in the latter part of last year. He was recently named the MVP of the St John’s College Basketball Tournament and, truthfully, his status as MVP was crystal clear and unchallenged.

There, he helped Northwood capture the most prestigious title in South African schools’ basketball in dominating fashion, despite the Knights facing the cream of South Africa’s basketball-playing schools.

Hlongwane is seemingly shy off the court but growing up playing with and against four older brothers instilled courage and mental toughness in him, and those two traits stand out in his game.

“It was easy to catch onto everything. Since I started playing basketball, I wasn’t that player who struggled to catch onto (concepts), because everything was easy,” Hlongwane said, reflecting on the impact of his upbringing.

“Even when my coaches told me what to do, I’d just do it because everything was easy.

“My older brothers would train in the morning, or maybe in the afternoon, and would ask me to come with them, and we’d all go and train. So, for me it was easy, because everything was just there,” he said in an exclusive conversation with SuperSport Schools Plus.

Like Michael Jordan had coach Phil Jackson to guide him, Hlongwane has Douglas Nedab, the Director of Basketball Operations and Head Coach at Northwood School.

“I think him having older brothers, whether he saw it at that point in time or not, it certainly made him mentally tougher,” said Nedab.

“I think whenever we challenge him, he just gives us a thumbs-up and a wink and it’s time to make it happen on the floor, which is pretty funny because he’s so chilled and laid-back. But I think we’ve gotten to a point where he executes at a high level now,” he added.

Hlongwane’s chill is concealed by his overwhelming dominance on the boards, at both ends of the court. It’s also his ability to turn that dominance into points that makes him different, whether it be with an assist from a defensive position, or a bucket on offence. His finishing, too, is assured and consistent.

However, it’s his all-round game and superior athleticism that impresses most. He provides major contributions in all ways: scoring, rebounding, assists, steals and blocks. And he leads by example.

Nedab himself is an interesting case study. Having come to South Africa from the United States of America as part of a non-profit organization, he has grown to love Mzansi and found purpose in upskilling and guiding the country’s promising ballers.

Assessing Hlongwane’s potential, Nedab couldn’t hold back his excitement and he went as far as mentioning the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a realistic goal for the youngster.

“Based on the feedback I’ve been getting from the people I know, and the people who watch the games, I know he could excel in the US. He has the game for it. If he really keeps working, I’m not bluffing when I say I think the NBA is very possible for him,” Nedab reckoned.

“But it will take a different work ethic, an area that he’s already improved on, because there’s so many guys that are 6’5”, who can dribble, shoot and pass.

“He just has to work harder, and I know he’s gotten better at it, but it’s going to take another gear to switch into is all I’m saying,” he concluded.

For many who have witnessed Lusanda Hlongwane’s massive impact on the court this season, they’ll believe he has the tools to go all the way, including the drive and the mental toughness. The NBA is, admittedly, a long shot, but he might just be the one to lead the way into a brighter future for South African basketball.

Football is a great leveller.

Last season, Highlands Park called the shots in the u19 division of the Gauteng Development League (GDL) to such an extent that people wondered what it would take for opposition teams to defeat the team based at Balfour Alexandra Park.

Home or away, it did not really matter, as The Lions of the North asserted their dominance in the division, ruling the Highveld with an iron fist.

Their run was particularly impressive given that the league is filled with some of the giants of South African football, including Mamelodi Sundowns, Kaizer Chiefs and SuperSport United.

However, that was all in 2023 and the new season has brought different fortunes to the “Orange Army” as they are yet to build any momentum. It is still early in the season, but Highlands Park have, thus far, failed to meet expectations.

After opening with a goalless draw at home against Tuks in the opening round of GDL fixtures, they found themselves on the wrong end of a 3-0 score against SuperSport United at Megawatt Park on the weekend.

However, it is hard to fault Highlands Park as very few teams would have been able to stop the magic of Bohlale Ngwato on Saturday afternoon. The youngster had a dream game in which everything he touched put his team on the front foot and, at the same time, hurt the Lions of the North.

Ngwato netted a brace before registering an assist on Michael Alagiozoglou‘s goal. To Highlands Park’s relief, lightning brought SuperSport’s onslaught to a halt with 12 minutes remaining on the board and United comfortably in charge of proceedings.

After stopping the match for 15 minutes, the referee decided it was not safe for play to continue and the game was called off.

It was a disappointing end to SuperSport’s day, but they had plenty of reasons to smile after their u13 and u17 sides recorded wins over their Highlands Park opposition.

Thabang Qina netted a hattrick for United’s u13s, before Mpho Pitsa and Rorisang Taukubong scored a goal each, leaving them 5-0 winners, which set the club up for an almost flawless day out on the pitch.

The u17 team won 3-1 courtesy of a Cruz Rodrigues double and Lwandle Yende‘s solitary goal, and United’s only loss to Highlands Park came in the u15 clash, which they lost 0-2.

In other u19 fixtures, Randburg AFC lost 2-3 at home to Mamelodi Sundowns, while Tuks came away with a 2-1 win over East Rand Athletic Club.

Joburg City and Sevens Academy were involved in an entertaining eight-goal draw while TS Galaxy thrashed Wits Juniors 5-1.

RESULTS

u13

Rosina Sedibane 1-4 Kaizer Chiefs
SuperSport United 5-0 Highlands Park
Tuks 2-2 East Rand Athletic Club
Joburg City 2 – 4 Sevens Academy
TS Galaxy 6-0 Wits Junior
Remember Elite Sport Academy 1-2 Kathorus Hyper Academy
Randburg AFC 4-5 Mamelodi Sundowns

u15

School of Excellence 4-3 Jomo Cosmo
Rosina Sedibane 0-1 Kaizer Chiefs
SuperSport United 0-2 Highlands Park
Tuks 1-1 East Rand Athletic Club
Joburg City 1-0 Sevens Academy
TS Galaxy 1-1 Wits Junior
Remember Elite Sport Academy 1-1 Kathorus Hyper Academy
Randburg AFC 1-2 Mamelodi Sundowns

u17

School of Excellence 3-2 Jomo Cosmos
Rosina Sedibane 1-3 Kaizer Chiefs
SuperSport United 3-1 Highlands Park
Tuks 2-1 East Rand Athletic Club
Joburg City 0-4 Sevens Academy
TS Galaxy 3-3 Wits Junior
Remember Elite Sport Academy 3-2 Kathorus Hyper Academy
Randburg AFC 1-0 Mamelodi Sundowns

u19

School of Excellence 2-1 Jomo Cosmos
Rosina Sedibane 0-2 Kaizer Chiefs
SuperSport United 3-0 Highlands Park (match stopped due to lightning)
Tuks 2-1 East Rand Athletic Club
Joburg City 4-4 Sevens Academy
TS Galaxy 5-1 Wits Junior
Remember Elite Sport Academy 3-1 Kathorus Hyper Academy
Randburg AFC 2-3 Mamelodi Sundowns

Development football is in the spotlight this weekend following the DStv Premiership mid-week fixtures where a number of teenagers put on a show in the country’s top-flight competition.

One of those youngsters was 19-year-old Wandile Dube, who was named in the starting line-up for the mighty Soweto giants, Kaizer Chiefs, and repaid coach Cavin Johnson‘s faith in him by scoring a screamer to secure a 1-0 home win for the Amakhosi over Golden Arrows.

Relebohile Mofokeng, also 19 years of age, started and netted a goal for Orlando Pirates in their mid-week 1-1 draw with Cape Town Spurs, while Siviwe Nkwali (18) and Asekho Tiwani (18) graced the Premiership stage for Spurs and Sekhukhune United respectively.

Two more teenagers, Luphumlo Sifumba (18) and Shakeel April (18), also bagged crucial minutes on the Premiership stage, turning out for Cape Town City in a 0-1 loss to Stellenbosch Football Club on Tuesday.

In the wake of the big-time performances of those teenagers, all eyes, this weekend, will be on the Gauteng Development League (GDL), where most of those youngsters honed their skills in preparation for professional football.

Catch all the action live on SuperSport Schools (www.supersportschools.com).

Among the players that will be on show in the GDL is SuperSport United‘s Benjamin Wallis, the captain of the under-19 side from Pretoria, who leads his charges against the defending champions of the division, Highlands Park, at Eskom Megawatt Park.

Wallis will be alongside the reliable Kemorapedi Ngwato and Kagiso Mogokolo, while the promising duo of Keitumetse Lecia and Manelisi Mazibuko will also be out to deny “The Lions of the North” their first three-point haul of the season.

A majority of the SuperSport United u19 players already have experience in the semi-professional DStv Diski Challenge, which will give them confidence that they can handle whatever the defending champions throw at them. However, Highlands Park u19s have the repertoire to make the encounter a closely contested battle between two of the best sides in the division.

In other fixtures, Tuks will go up against East Rand Athletic Club at the University of Pretoria Campus on Saturday, while TS Galaxy welcomes Wits Junior at Sandown High School on the same day.

Mamelodi Sundowns travel to the Randburg Sports Complex to face Randburg AFC, while Sevens Academy takes on Joburg City at the Alberton Football Club facilities.

Rosina Sedibane and Remember Elite host Kaizer Chiefs and Kathorus Hyper at the Rosina Sedibane and President Park Stadium respectively.

In the last of Saturday’s fixtures, Panorama FC welcomes the newbies, NWU Vaal, to the Panorama Sports Ground.

Sunday Fixtures

School of Excellence vs Jomo Cosmos at Elandsfontein.

Over 700 hopeful hoopers converged in Johannesburg to participate in the 19th edition of the St. John’s College Basketball Tournament.

St. John’s welcomed new faces from four provinces namely Eastern Cape, Gauteng, Free State and KwaZulu Natal for four days of gruelling action, while two neighbouring countries in Eswatini and Zimbabwe sent out two sets of troops to take part in the tournament.

To get proceedings underway, the KZN-based St Charles College u19s hit the ground running on Thursday, moving past the Parktown Boys u19s with a 33-29 scoreline before going on to close off the opening day with a victory over the hosts, St John’s College late in the evening.

With two victories in the bag, St Charles topped their pool heading into day two and put themselves in a good position to progress to the tournament’s knockout stage following the conclusion of the round-robin stage.

The hosts certainly hit the brick wall in their meeting with St Charles. However, they had already recorded points on the table, having beaten Parktown Boys 51-30 earlier in the day to mark a positive start to the competition.

St Stithians College, St Alban’s College, Michaelhouse, Sacred Heart College and King Edward High also topped their groups having earned positive results on Thursday.

St Stithians dominated St. Peters 54-25, Michaelhouse beat Michael Mount 54-44, while Maritzburg and Jeppe High fell short by 45-66 and 25-34 against St Alban’s and St David’s Marist respectively.

St Benedicts got the better of Kearsney College on Day one with a 39-35 victory.

With Day two promising to bring yet another set of entertainment on the courts, we can certainly expect one or two teams to bounce back after being on the receiving end on Day one.