Author: ongcwabe

Time and again, the Gods of this “beautiful game” lace up their boots for the one duty they have been known to do best in football: level the playing fields.

Although some perceive this only as a myth, most football fans around the world understand and believe in the power of the Gods of football.

Many believe it was the Gods’ intervention that saw Leicester City win the English Premier League eight years ago in the presence of the giants of English football, including Manchester City, Manchester United and Liverpool.

As we build up to the semifinals of the Gauteng Development League Top 8 Cup, where the giants of South African football, Mamelodi Sundowns (u19), are set to play School of Excellence, one wonders whether this will be one of those times when we witness the Gods’ divine intervention once again?

Across the African continent, and the world to an extent, the Tshwane-based Sundowns are respected as a successful football franchise and a talent-producing machine for the rainbow nation.

The domination of the “Kabo Yellow” nation was underlined when eight players in Bafana Bafana‘s starting XI during the recently concluded Africa Cup of Nations were Sundowns players, a feat of dominance that is rare in any national team.

At the academy level, it is no different. Sundowns often dominate. In the under-19 division, they finished second in the GDL last season, 10 points behind league winners Highlands Park.

However, one team seems to be favoured by the Gods when facing Sundowns and that is School of Excellence (SOE).

Last season, SOE returned impressive results against the mighty Sundowns, drawing 2-2 in their most recent fixture, in August 2023, while emerging victorious by a 3-2 margin in June.

As the two teams prepare to meet this Saturday, will Excellence continue their good run of form against Sundowns?

SOE might not have the same pedigree as Sundowns, but they are an institution that has had a monumental impact beyond the football space in the country.

As a project, SOE has stuck to its main objectives of providing youngsters from disadvantaged backgrounds an opportunity to stake a claim in the often-harsh world of professional sports.

Over the 26 years of its existence, SOE has hosted trials annually in search of 120 talented youngsters, to guide and equip them, not only with training facilities but also with an education. Players of the calibre of Steven Pienaar and Daine Klate are products of the project.

At 14:00 on Saturday, School of Excellence will go head-to-head with Sundowns for a spot in Sunday’s final in the first competition of the 2024 football season in the Gauteng region.

Semifinal Fixtures, Saturday 24 February

U13

• Kaizer Chiefs vs Remember Elite Soccer Academy
• Mamelodi Sundowns vs Panorama

U15

• Highlands Park vs Mamelodi Sundowns
• School of Excellence (SOE) vs TUKS

U17

• Supersport United vs Highlands Park
• Kaizer Chiefs vs Randburg

U19

• Prestige Football Development Academy vs Supersport United
• Mamelodi Sundowns vs School of Excellence (SOE)

The highly anticipated Gauteng Development League Top 8 competition grabbed the weekend’s spotlight as Gauteng’s most successful football franchises, coaches, and fans assembled at the Marks Park Sports Complex in Randburg on Saturday.

The hottest items on the day’s menu were the mouth-watering u19 division clashes between Kaizer Chiefs and SuperSport United, and Highlands Park and Prestige Football Development Academy (PFDA), which promised to provide the entertainment the fans had been craving.

Coach David Mathebula‘s Kaizer Chiefs, the Soweto Giants, went into their game deservedly carrying the favourites’ tag, as they had played the most attractive football last season, scoring over 100 goals in the GDL, the most by any team.

However, it was one of those rather forgettable days for Mathebula and his young troops as they crumbled under SuperSport United’s pressure.

Malatji Mohone‘s yellow card during the encounter highlighted Chiefs’ struggles on the day as the encounter ended goalless. Then, in the penalty shootout, the Pretoria-based SuperSport United dominated to run out 3-0 winners as they registered the first upset of the day.

It was not the last as last season’s league winners, Highlands Park, were handed a humbling defeat by PFDA.

Last season, PFDA finished eighth on the log, but they showed that they had put the matters of the past where they belong, in the past.

The clash ended in a 1-1 draw as Prestige’s Shahabodien Salmaan and Highlands Park’s Moeletsi Ofentse found the back of the net. PFDA then held their nerve in the penalty shootout and edged past “The Lions of the North” 5-4 from the spot.

In other u19 division matches, Mamelodi Sundowns beat TS Galaxy 2-0 at Clapham on Sunday, while School of Excellence got the better of Randburg AFC with a 2-0 victory at Marks Park.

GDL Top 8 Full Results

u13

RESA v Siluma 7 – Penalties

• RESA won 4-2 in penalties and progressed to the semi-finals.

Panorama vs Jomo Cosmos 10-0

• Panorama progressed to the semi-finals.

Kaizer Chiefs vs Kathorus Hyper 4-0

• Kaizer Chiefs progressed to the semi-finals.

Mamelodi Sundowns vs SuperSport United 3-1

• Sundowns progressed to the semi-finals.

u15

School of Excellence vs SuperSport United 2-1

• SOE progressed to the semi-finals

Siluma 7 vs TUKS 0-3

• TUKS progressed to the semi-finals

Kaizer Chiefs vs Highlands Park

• Chiefs won5-4 in Penalty shootouts and progressed to the semi-finals

Mamelodi Sundowns vs Wits Junior 3-0

• Sundowns progressed to the semi-finals

u17

SS United vs TUKS 8-2

• SS United progressed to the semi-finals

Randburg AFC vs Kathorus Hyper Academy 1-1

• Randburg won 5-4 in penalty shootouts and progressed to the semi-finals

Kaizer Chiefs vs RESA 2-0

• Chiefs progressed to the semi-finals

Mamelodi Sundowns vs Highlands Park 1-2

• Highlands Park progressed to the semi-finals

u19

School of Excellence (SOE) vs Randburg AFC 2-0

• SOE progress to the semi-finals

Kaizer Chiefs vs SS United 0-0

• SS United progressed to the semi-finals on Penalties (0-3)

Highlands Park vs Prestige Football Development Academy (PFDA)1-1

• PFDA won 4-3 in penalty shootouts and progressed to the semi-finals

Mamelodi Sundowns vs TS Galaxy 2-0

• Sundowns progressed to the semi-finals

 

The Vaal might not be as famous as Soweto, Dobsonville, or any of the other areas of Gauteng that are known for producing the country’s top footballing talents. However, on the ground, the Vaal is respected in the football space.

With the products of the region ranging from former Bafana Bafana captain Aaron Mokoena to the stylish Thabo Rakgale, the Vaal has regularly contributed some of the best players in South Africa to the professional ranks.

However, without a team participating in the country’s top-flight, the DStv Premiership, the Vaal hasn’t received the wider recognition that it deserves.

That’s where the 39-year-old Tebello Kheswa comes into the picture.

Kheswa is a household name in the Vaal region, respected for his coaching credentials, his deep love of football and, most importantly, for pushing to put the Vaal area on the map.

One of his most commendable achievements was guiding the North-West University (NWU) Vaal Development Academy to promotion to the Gauteng Development League (GDL) – a league widely regarded as the best academy league on the African continent – at the end of the 2023 season.

Kheswa and his team spent only one season in the Gauteng Development Promotional League (GDPL) before earning promotion to the top level, thus pulling off a very rare feat.

“It was a very emotional day, not only for me but also for the academy boys, for the institution and for all the coaches,” Kheswa told SuperSport Schools in an exclusive interview when discussing that promotion.

“It was our first time playing in the GDPL which means we got promoted in our first season playing in the promotional league. Even today, we are still celebrating that achievement because we never thought that, in our first GDPL season, we would make it to the GDL.”

The NWU Academy began in 2017 and brought together the Vaal’s most talented youngsters, turning them into a formidable outfit.

By 2023, the team was competing in the Engen Knockout Competition, taking on some of the best teams in the country, including TS Galaxy, which also competes in the Gauteng Development League.

Kheswa looks back on NWU Vaal’s maiden Engen Knockout campaign with fond memories. It marked the coming of age of his team.

During the tournament, NWU Vaal reached the round of sixteen where TS Galaxy brought their adventure to an end. By the time Kheswa’s youngsters went head-to-head with the big teams again, during last season’s GDL Youth Cup, they had tightened up their game plans.

They went on to cause a string of big upsets that got the football community talking, recording wins over SuperSport United, The School of Excellence and the mighty Mamelodi Sundowns, to earn themselves the “giant slayers” tag.

“We started playing the big teams in May or June, when we played in the Engen Knockout. That’s the tournament that helped us have an idea of what is required from us when we play these big teams.

“We got the taste and got to gauge ourselves in terms of how far we are from the best teams in the country. That’s where it started.

“Then, when we went to play in the GDL Youth Cup last year, we were a lot more comfortable. That’s why we went and beat SuperSport United, the School of Excellence and Mamelodi Sundowns to reach the final,” Kheswa said.

One of the toughest jobs in football is occupying the hot seat of a head coach, and it gets even more heated if a coach holds that position at one of the biggest clubs in the country.

Kaizer Chiefs’ u19 coach, David Mathebula, knows the hot seat all too well as he is entrusted with accelerating the talents of the players in the Soweto giant’s academy and preparing them for top-flight football in the Premier Soccer League (PSL).

Often, academy coaches don’t get the respect they deserve and that boils down to the understanding of the audience about what exactly those academy coaches do and what kinds of pressure they are faced with.

In an exclusive interview with SuperSport Schools Plus, Mathebula described the pressure he faces as an academy coach and the kinds of expectations that come with the hot seat that he currently sits on.

“Working for Kaizer Chiefs, honestly, is not an easy thing. This is a big brand but, as a coach, you are expected to handle the pressure because if you can’t handle it, it will go down to the players,” he said.

“In terms of how I handle it, I always train myself to stay calm during the matches. When the players see a very solid coach on the touchline, they will also be calm on the field of play.”

As the 2024 edition of the Gauteng Development League (GDL) draws closer – kick off is on 2 March – Mathebula and his fellow head coaches will have to produce results once again as the public’s demand for young, exciting talent and winning football increases inexorably.

Mathebula told SuperSport Schools that the expectations from the powers that be at the club and from the general public is part of the package of being an academy coach.

“It’s not easy as a coach because you are always expected to deliver,” he explained. “But a big part of the pressure comes from within, from us as coaches wanting to produce star players for the first team; the kind of player that will go up there and make an impact immediately. That’s what we focus on.

“Pressure is an everyday thing here. We have to deliver as coaches. But because I have played the game and some of the coaches have played the game, I think we understand how to handle the pressure and we don’t allow all of that to affect the performances of our players.

“It’s not easy because, at the end of the day, we will be judged on that in the near future – how many players have you produced, and where are they playing? So, if you can produce top players who go on to play for the first team and have a few playing regularly at a relatively young age, that would be a big achievement,” he concluded.

Last season’s academy crop included Khulumane Ndamane, a physically strong and composed centre-back, who also turned out for Kaizer Chiefs in the DStv Diski Challenge.

Mathebula’s new group of youngsters is set to start their season on Saturday, 17 February, in a GDL Top Eight clash against SuperSport United. Expectations remain, as always, sky-high for the AmaKhosi.

 

The KwaZulu-Natal region’s fourth round of derby weekend matches dished up some mouthwatering clashes in Pietermaritzburg on Saturday, with Maritzburg College hosting Durban High School (DHS) and Northwood School visiting St Charles College.

The Knights headed into their encounter against Saints high in confidence after defeating DHS 67-64 the previous weekend. However, after a nine-point win over Westville Boys’ High, the home team also carried momentum into the contest.

In an electric first half, St Charles opened up a five-point lead over the visitors, but the second half was all about the Knights. With Callum Magurno and Siyamthanda Shabalala calling the defensive shots and Lusanda Hlongwane dominating the boards, Northwood stacked up scoring opportunities to break open a tight contest.

Magurno, alongside Chadley Hargreaves, took the game away from the hosts, with the pair regularly converting three-pointers as the Knights pulled away to a convincing 76-54 victory.

Maritzburg College, meanwhile, awaited a wounded DHS outfit following the Horseflies’ narrow loss to the Knights.

Looking for redemption, the Durban boys gave College a proper run for their money, playing a fast-paced game and supplementing it with accurate shooting. However, coach Suwi Siwila‘s College side was up for the challenge.

Exhibiting outstanding tactical awareness and skills, they defused the visitor’s enthusiastic challenge. By the time the referee blew the final whistle, College had 62 points on the board to DHS’s 40.

Westville Boys High hosted Kearsney College in a local rivalry and the two sides put together an enthralling, nail-biting encounter.

Despite a slow start to the game, the action intensified towards the latter part of the first quarter, when the home team caught the visitors napping on defence and managed to forge a 17-12 lead.

Both teams added six points each to their scorelines in the second quarter, and the defensive domination continued after half-time.

However, the final quarter was explosive as both teams, finally, found their offensive rhythm. Thanks to the trio of Luca Borragerio (14 points), Reabetswe Sithole (13 points) and Sihle Ngcobo, Kearsney managed to erase Westville’s lead.

However, Westville’s Enzokuhke Mweli (34 points) and John Dickson (11 points) made full use of their opportunities and they produced just enough offense to overcome a four-point fourth quarter deficit and secure a thrilling one-point victory.

Clifton College, after a breakthrough win over Glenwood High last week, followed that up with the scalp of Hilton College in a big victory for coach Sibu Cele‘s charges in light rain and windy conditions.

In the Eastern Cape, Queen’s College, winners over Mthatha in round three, tasted defeat in their clash with the visiting St Andrew’s College, who recorded a 38-27 victory.

Up on the highveld, Jeppe High for Boys was on the receiving end of a second successive tough loss. In round three, they had gone down 41-46 at Pretoria Boys High, and on Saturday there were, again, only five points in it as St David’s Marist Inanda took the win.

Boys High suffered a three-point loss against King Edward VII (KES), but their Pretoria neighbours, St Alban’s College, caught the eye with an emphatic 22-point win at St John’s College.

RESULTS

Queen’s College 22, St Andrew’s College 38
Kingswood College 17, PE Comets 23
Maritzburg College 62, Durban High School 40
St Charles College 54, Northwood School 76
Westville Boys’ High 53, Kearsney College 52
Clifton College 49, Hilton College 38
Glenwood High 33, Michaelhouse 59
St Stithians College 30, St Benedict’s College 35
St David’s Marist Inanda 50, Jeppe High for Boys 45
King Edward VII 37-24 Pretoria Boys High
St John’s College 36, St Alban’s College 58

Bafana Bafana‘s journey to the Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) semi-finals was by no means an easy ride, with coach Hugo Broos‘ largely South Africa-based side being ridiculed and looked down upon leading up to Africa’s showpiece event.

However, with Ronwen Williams leading the players on the pitch, they embodied the South African spirit in its truest form. After suffering a humbling 0-2 defeat to Mali in their opening fixture, they showed grit and determination to complete a quick turnaround of their fortunes.

With Themba Zwane in the centre of the action in midfield, South Africa carved their way to the semi-finals, which touched the hearts of the nation.

Despite hitting a brick wall and being denied a spot in the final by the Super Eagles, Nigeria, after a penalty shootout, following a 1-1 draw, the campaign delivered moments that echoed the class of 1996, which lifted the Afcon title on South African shores.

“I remember, I was 15 years old at the time and still in the development stage of my career, playing for Jomo Cosmos,” South African Football Association (Safa) Assistant Head Scout and former Bafana Bafana captain, Aaron Mokoena, recalled in an exclusive interview with SuperSport Schools.

“I had just signed my first professional contract, [and was] training with the first team and occasionally playing in the u19 team. It was a dream for me to represent my country and the fact that the class of ’96 went on to win that tournament really uplifted my spirit and belief system.”

Mokoena went from being an inspired youngster to captaining Bafana Bafana in the first and only Fifa World Cup played in Africa in 2010, when South Africa hosted the event. The 43-year-old told SuperSport Schools that he was driven to inspire youngsters at the grassroots level whenever he donned the South African colours.

“It did play at the back of our minds, besides us being focused on getting onto the pitch and performing well. We always knew that there were youngsters who looked up to us and who wanted to be where we were in the future.

“It’s always in your mind as a player, and it motivates you, not only to perform but to also go back to the grassroots and give back to the same structures that made you the players that you are.”

Wednesday’s semi-finals appearance was the first time that Bafana Bafana had progressed to that stage of the tournament since 2000, when they finished third, with a squad that included Lucas Radebe, Mark Fish, Quinton Fortune, Shaun Barlett, John “Shoes’ Moshoeu, Pierre Issa, Siyabonga Nomvete, Eric Tinkler and Andre Arendse, among others.

With South African football having gone through many ups and downs in recent years, the 2023 campaign has re-energised the country’s footballing space and given hope to aspiring football players in schools and academies across the country.

“I was impressed with the performance of the boys because for you to play at that level, you have to be mentally strong and be very well prepared,” Mokoena said.

“I hope that this campaign will motivate the youngsters that it is possible.

“I hope the performance of the boys in Cote d’Ivoire motivates the youngsters to say, ‘When you work hard and get an opportunity, don’t look back’.”

Week three of the 2024 schools’ basketball season saw some top-class performances delivered in KwaZulu-Natal clashes, with Durban High School and Northwood being separated by a three-pointer at the final whistle, while Maritzburg College waltzed into Balgowan and comfortably took care of Michaelhouse.

Down the coast, in the Eastern Cape region, Queen’s College hosted the up-and-coming Mthatha 1st team at Queen’s courts, where the hosts had the support of their home crowd.

In KZN, Maritzburg College has built a well-deserved reputation for excellence on the basketball court, and they were, thus, clear favourites for their clash with Michaelhouse.

The home team might have had an upset on their mind, but College’s high pace in attack and an impeccable defence doomed ‘House to defeat as the Red, Black, and White dominated at both ends of the floor.

When the final whistle sounded, College had cruised to a 67-39 victory.

At DHS, a talented Northwood Knights squad pulled off a skin-of-the-teeth win away from home, claiming a thriller 67-64.

Westville Boys’ High, fresh off a strong third-place finish at the AISJ American International School of Johannesburg Invitational Basketball Tournament, faced off against perennial powerhouse, St Charles College, who won the St John’s Basketball Tournament in 2023.

For much of the match, it was very tight, but Saints, with James Wucherer and Taite Hendricks leading the way, and Wucherer, especially, stirring the crowd with a string of dunks, managed to pull clear near the end and pick up a 65-56 win.

Kearsney College made their trip to Hilton College worthwhile when they sneaked a two-point victory, 59-57. Reabetswe Sithole led the way for the visitors, scoring 17 points, while Simba Chidakwa knocked down 16 for Hilton.

Meanwhile, Clifton College‘s never-say-die first team put it together against Glenwood and was rewarded with a 34-25 victory.

Down in the Eastern Cape, Queen’s College made light work of the Mthatha 1st team, inflicting a 30-8 defeat on the visiting team.

Up on the highveld, Jeppe High School for Boys and Pretoria Boys High did battle. It was tight, but the boys from the South African capital emerged with a five-point win, 46-41.

St John’s College eased to a 74-18 victory over CBC Boksburg, while St Alban’s College claimed a treasured scalp, defeating St David’s Marist Inanda in Sandton by a 60-48 margin.

RESULTS

Northwood 67, Durban High School 64
Maritzburg College 67, Michaelhouse 39
St Charles College 65, Westville Boys’ High 56
Clifton College 34, Glenwood 25
Queen’s College 30, Mtatha 8
Pretoria Boys’ High 46, Jeppe High School for Boys 41
St John’s College 74, CBC Boksburg 18
St Alban’s College 60, St David’s Marist 48

It appeared as if the stars might align for South Africa from the moment the pre-match formalities got underway ahead of the first semi-final of the ICC u19 Cricket World Cup in Benoni on Tuesday, with Eastern Storm coach Geoffrey Toyana performing the duty of the trophy-bearer before the action began.

Toyana is not only the coach of the Benoni-based franchise, but he also served as an inspirational figure to the Junior Proteas, as a cricketer who enjoyed a successful playing career with the Johannesburg-based Lions and the Pretoria-based Titans, before moving into coaching.

After Toyana’s moment in the spotlight, it was left to SA u19 captain Juan James and his troops to get the job done in front of a good crowd at Willowmoore Park.

A lively atmosphere prevailed throughout, with a local band doing its bit to support the South Africans in their bid to reach the World Cup final. On the old stands at Willowmoore Park, a sea of green was present to support the Junior Proteas, continuing a culture that was to the fore all across the country when the Springboks successfully defended their Rugby World Cup title in France last year.

Unfortunately for the home supporters, some thunderbolts up front from fast bowlers’ Kwena Maphaka and Tristan Luus, and solid knocks from Lhuan-dré Pretorius and Richard Seletswane, were not quite enough to see the Junior Proteas through to play for the treasured trophy.

Afterwards, reflecting afterwards on where he felt his team might have lost the game, James said: “I think it probably started in the middle with the bat. I think they bowled really well. Again, when they were batting out in the middle, when we had them four-down for 30-odd, Uday (Saharan) and Sachin (Dhas) batted really well. It’s probably those two moments (where we lost the game).

“It’s something we struggled with the whole tournament. We just didn’t quite manage to get it right,” he added.

However, the Junior Proteas reminded the world about the power of sport over the preceding three weeks as South Africans from different backgrounds came together in support of the James-led u19s.

Moreover, stars were born, with players like Maphaka, Pretorius and Dewan Marais, among others, capturing the imagination.

“The one thing that stands out the most for me is the never giving up from us,” James reckoned.

“Even now, at the end… fighting to the very end. That’s something that makes me proud as a captain, seeing everyone fight like that.”

He then turned to the support the team had received, saying: “I just want to thank everyone for coming out in every single game. You have really been amazing, and we really appreciate the support. We hope we made you proud.”

The 2024 basketball season fired into action on the weekend with Maritzburg College welcoming Westville Boys’ High to the Alan Paton Memorial Hall and Multi-Purpose Centre for a showdown between two talented teams in a traditional season-opener.

College played host to a massive 20 games as the rivals battled for bragging rights.

The home team had ended 2023 in fine form, and they were keen to extend their impressive run against a nuggetty Westville line-up.

Westville, though, had other ideas and hit the ground running, taking the game to the home side. After the first quarter, they had opened up a narrow 14-11 advantage.

The Griffin played efficient ball and showed excellent touch around the rim. College, though, were heating up and their athleticism, speed and superb ball skills were soon on show.

College playmaker Masinga then took control of the contest, which led to the red, black and white surging ahead of the visitors.

With the crowd fully behind them, College fed off the energy of the vocal support. A couple of slam dunks and a last-second basket took the Pietermaritzburg side to a 75-56 win and laid down a solid marker for the season.

The first team win was one of 16 for College. Westville mustered only four victories, but their u16 team, which was the class of KZN in 2023, continued their winning ways, outplaying College 48-26.

Meanwhile, Northwood School showed off their offensive capabilities in reaching triple figures as they swamped Hilton College 102-63. The Knights captured the Kearsney Invitational Basketball Tournament title in 2023 and they’re a well-coached outfit with some standout players, which will make them a tough out this year.

Speaking of Kearsney College, they recorded a 50-33 win over Glenwood at the SportZone on Saturday. The visitors from the south of Durban came out of the blocks fast and set Kearsney on their heels, but the Botha’s Hill boys slowly began to turn the screws and by half-time they were one point in front.

In the second half, they opened the taps and ran away to a convincing 17-point win.

At the Riverside Sports Club, Clifton College and Michaelhouse went toe-to-toe, with Clifton starting off strongly, but Michaelhouse fighting back to level matters at 16-16 at the break.

A scoring spurt took ‘House eight points clear at 30-22 in the third quarter, but Clifton, with some good defence, created a number of simple scoring opportunities and worked their way back to 31-31.

The team were all square at 33-33 when Michaelhouse went on a 9-0 run to give themselves some breathing room. Clifton, though, roared right back at them and pulled to within five points, but that was as close as they got, with Michaelhouse earning a battling 45-40 victory.

St Charles College, renowned for their basketball prowess, made a winning start to their season, holding off a robust challenge from Durban High School to win 62-52.

Scores

Maritzburg College 75-56 Westville Boys’ High
Hilton College 63-102 Northwood School
Kearsney College 50-33 Glenwood
Clifton College 40-45 Michaelhouse
St Charles College 62-52 Durban High School

18 January 2024

There is no denying the impact of the Gauteng Development League (GDL), not only on development football, but also in the professional football space, with the likes of Kaizer Chiefs’ and SA u23 star Mduduzi Shabalala setting the country alight with his raw talent and tactical prowess.

Thanks to the involvement of the broadcast maestros of Sub-Saharan Africa, SuperSport and SuperSport Schools, the Gauteng-based league has seen its impact amplified and the development of players accelerated, with the league generating viewership of over 10-million last season.

However, amid the production of x-factor talents, there still is room for improvement. In a SuperSport Schools’ chat with Kaizer Chiefs’ u19 coach, David Mathebula, last year, a concern about the qualifications of coaches was raised.

League administrator, Muzi Shangase, told SuperSport Schools in an exclusive interview that those questions will be addressed this coming season.

“Last season, the GDL reached new heights in terms of the viewership and that boils down to the involvement of SuperSport Schools and the general commitment from the administrators and the clubs themselves,” said Shangase.

“This season, we have a compliance manual in terms of the coaches’ qualifications, the general marketing of the league, and upskilling everyone involved in the league, to understand the broadcast space and help maximise our reach.

“As a coach, for you to sit on the bench, it is compulsory that you must have a CAF D Licence for the u13 and u15 divisions. In the u17 and u19 divisions, coaches need to have a CAF C Licence.

“This is something that we communicated in January 2023 that, moving into the 2024 season, coaches need to upskill themselves, and we gave them enough time to make themselves eligible to sit on the bench as coaches of the GDL teams this season.

“If we would have international coaches who would be involved in the league, we also have a benchmark for them. They should have a UEFA B Licence for u13 and u15, and then for u17 and u19 they need to possess a UEFA A Licence,” he added.

The 2024 season will kick off with a knockout competition – the GDL Cup – which will feature only the top eight teams in each age group from last season’s GDL log standings.

The quarterfinals round of the knockout competition will be played on 17 February, with the final set for 25 February.

The League swings into action on 2 March, with two newcomers, the East Rand Athletic Football Club and the Vereeniging-based NWU Vaal Soccer Academy (feature photo). Both have earned promotion from the Gauteng Development Promotional League, and NWU Vaal were also giantkillers in the GDL Youth Cup in 2023, eliminating the School of Excellence, SuperSport United and Mamelodi Sundowns on their way to the final.

The newcomers replace the Prestige Football Development Academy and Kagiso Porto, both of whom endured forgettable seasons in 2023 and were relegated.

GDL Top 8 Fixture

17 February 

U13
1. Kaizer Chiefs vs Kathorus Hyper Academy
2. RESA vs Siluma 7
3. Panorama vs Jomo Cosmos
4. Mamelodi Sundowns vs SuperSport United

U15
1. Kaizer Chiefs vs Highlands Park
2. Siluma 7 vs Tuks
3. School of Excellence vs SuperSport United
4. Mamelodi Sundowns vs Wits Junior

U17
1. Kaizer Chiefs vs RESA
2. Randburg vs Kathorus Hyper Academy
3. SuperSport United vs Tuks
4. Mamelodi Sundowns vs Highlands Park

U19
1. Kaizer Chiefs vs SuperSport United
2. School of Excellence vs Randburg
3. Highlands Park vs Prestige
4. Mamelodi Sundowns vs TS Galaxy

Semi-finals

24 February

Final

25 February