Author: ongcwabe

While South Africa celebrated Women’s Day, SuperSport Schools also played its part by showing its commitment to recognising and celebrating the contributions of women through the change of all SuperSport logos to pink for the month of August.

On the football pitches in the Gauteng region, the province’s top academies continued their journeys as the Gauteng Development League resumed on Friday across the province.

With Kaizer Chiefs having overtaken Mamelodi Sundowns only a few weeks ago (although they have played two games more), ‘Downs were looking to regain control over the under-19 division over the long weekend.

Coach Surprise Moriri and his boys had two fixtures lined up, which presented them with an opportunity to reclaim the top spot.

Chiefs, on the other hand, had only one match scheduled against Jomo Cosmos, which was expected to be a fairly easy match-up for coach David Mathebula‘s side. The Amakhosi, however, were made to work hard, but they came away with a 2-1 victory away from home.

Matters didn’t go according to plan for Sundowns, who had Sevens Academy and Highlands Park to contend with over the weekend. First up, ‘Downs hosted Sevens Academy at Clapham High.

Playing at home, they were expected to breeze past their opponents, given their dominance this season, along with the fact that Sevens Academy went into the fixture on the back of successive losses to East Rand Athletic Club (1-2) and TS Galaxy (1-4).

However, Sevens Academy turned the tables on Sundowns, handing them a 4-1 hiding. That was a result few saw coming, especially coach Moriri, his team and its supporters.

Bruised and battered, Moriri took his troops to Balfour Park for a showdown against the ‘Lions of North‘, Highlands Park, the defending league champions.

With a good crowd in attendance on Sunday afternoon, the teams played to a 1-1 draw to share the points. 

Tshwane-based Rosina Sedibane Modiba Sports School and SuperSport United did not do any better than Sundowns as neither registered a victory over the long weekend.

Rosina lost 0-3 and 0-1 to Panorama and Sevens Academy respectively. SuperSport United, meanwhile, hit a brick wall when they clashed with Kathorus Hyper Academy, losing that encounter 0-1. They, then, were held to a 2-2 draw by Remember Elite Sport Academy (RESA) on Sunday.

Tuks was the only Tshwane-based unit to return home with a positive result over the long weekend. It began, however, with a 0-1 loss to Jomo Cosmos on Friday, but it ended with a 2-0 victory over Panorama FC on Sunday afternoon.

RESULTS

Friday, 9 August

East Rand Athletic Club 0-2 Highlands Park 
Jomo Cosmos 1-0 TUKS
Kathorus Hyper 1-0 SuperSport United
NWU Vaal 1-1 School of Excellence
Mamelodi Sundowns 1-4 Sevens Academy
Panorama 3-0 Rosina Sedibane Modiba Sports School
Randburg 2-3 RESA 

Sunday, 11 August

East Rand Athletic Club 1-0 School of Excellence (1-0)
Sevens Academy 1-0 Rosina Sedibane Sports School (1-0)
SuperSport United 2-2 RESA
TS Galaxy 1-3 Randburg
TUKS 2-0 Panorama
Wits Junior 0-1 NWU Vaal
Highlands Park 1-1 Mamelodi Sundowns 
Jomo Cosmos 1-2 Kaizer Chiefs  

The Mpumalanga leg of the Kay Motsepe Schools Championship resumes on Saturday, 10 August, with four schools set to compete for the honours at Lowveld High School in Nelspruit.

The Kay Motsepe Schools Championship is the biggest development schools’ tournament in the country, with over 5 000 schools participating in it annually.

This year, the competition is being played for a 20th time, across South Africa’s nine provinces.

Among the four teams from up north, who will face one another for the title of champions of Mpumalanga is St Mark’s. In 2016, they qualified for the final, but they were subsequently disqualified for misconduct. The class of 2024 will be eager to make amends for that unfortunate stain on the school’s record.

On Saturday, they’ll be up against Mavutela, Ithafa and Khayalami.

If a school wins the championship, it will derive benefits from improvements to its infrastructure and teaching and learning environments.

The national winner of the u19 category will receive R3-million in infrastructure development. Meanwhile, the u13 winners, boys or girls, will receive R1-million.

Each of the Mpumalanga schools will play three matches on Saturday, with the games lasting one hour in duration.

The event kicks off at 08:45

FIXTURES

Malavutela (home) vs Ithafa (away)
St. Mark’s (home) vs Khayalami (away)

Khayalami (home) vs Malavutela (away)
Ithafa (home) vs St. Mark’s (away)

St. Mark’s (home) vs Malavutela (away)
Khayalami (home) vs Ithafa (away)

Just when Rosina Sedibane Modiba Sports School‘s fortunes appeared to be on the up, following a hard-fought draw at home to the table-topping and dominant Mamelodi Sundowns, things took a quick step back a week later.

Up against second placed Kaizer Chiefs at Naturena Village, coach Mpho Motala‘s side took on coach David Mathebula‘s charges and were handed a 0-2 defeat. 

A week later, Motala’s troops experienced a further dip in their fortunes, going down 1-2 to Wits Junior at Marks Park, which was only the second win of the season for the bottom-of-the-table club.

Heading into round 22 on the weekend, something had to be done in the Pretoria-based side. They needed a victory to get their campaign back on track. At times during the season, they have shown an ability to be a contender, and they needed to tap into that form.

Motala gathered his players together to prime them for the challenge of a dangerous TS Galaxy side, which has consistently featured in the top five of the league standings. Then, Rosina’s captain Neo Baloyi led the way, setting the example for his team-mates to follow.

The Pretoria team conceded a goal, but Baloyi grabbed a hattrick to guide his team to an upset victory. With the win came a three-place jump in the standings, with Rosina rising from 14th place to 11th place ahead of matchday 23.

Baloyi’s outstanding performance was highlighted by a spectacular long-range free kick, which the skipper deposited into the top right-hand corner, sending the commentators searching for superlatives and the spectators into rapturous cheers.

His other goals were also from set pieces, with one of them being a spot kick.

“We played really good opponents. They were really organised,” coach Motala told SuperSport Schools Plus after his charges’ much-needed 3-1 victory over TS Galaxy.

“But I thought we had a good plan. We held our lines defensively.

“I thought we could’ve scored a lot of goals, especially on the wings. I’m happy for the boys, they fought really hard.” he said.

RESULTS

Kathorus Hyper Academy 1-7 Kaizer Chiefs
Mamelodi Sundowns 2-0 Jomo Cosmos
Panorama FC 0-1 Highlands Park
Randburg AFC 0-1 Wits Junior
Remember Elite Sport Academy 1-1 Tuks
Rosina Sedibane Modiba Sports School 3-1 TS Galaxy
School of Excellence 3-1 SuperSport United
Sevens Academy 1-2 East Rand Athletic Club 

Every now and then, a win by an underdog can reignite the fire in that team’s bellies, turn its fortunes around and resurrect its season. Last weekend, the Gauteng Development League’s (GDL) bottom of the table club enjoyed a victory, which could prove to be one of those wins.

The football Gods showed up and showed off with Wits Junior, a side that has been in dire form all season, when they visited Rosina Sedibane Modiba. With the odds stacked against them, Wits Junior pulled off a stunning 2-1 victory over a strong team.

That same Rosina Sedibane Modiba side went toe-to-toe with the dominant Mamelodi Sundowns, who are unbeaten in the league, denying them three points and forcing a fair split of the points with a hard-fought draw.

Against Rosina, though, Wits Junior broke a nine-match winless streak, which included losses in eight of those nine games.

Randburg AFC, meanwhile, had put together a solid season before stumbling to successive defeats last weekend, going down 0-2 to Kaizer Chiefs and Joburg City respectively.

This week, they host Wits Junior at the Randburg Sports Complex. Another victory would be a massive boost for the visitors, while a win would be an equally important result for the home team as they try to find their way once more.

In other fixtures, School of Excellence welcomes SuperSport United to Elandsfontein, while Tuks travels to President Park Stadium for a meeting with Remember Elite Sport Academy (RESA).

A wounded NWU Vaal, after back-to-back defeats to the table-topping Sundowns and Chiefs, hosts Joburg City at the NWU Sports Field before the action switches to Clapham High School where Mamelodi Sundowns will lock horns with Jomo Cosmos.

To wrap up Matchday 21’s fixtures, Panorama goes head-to-head with the defending champions, the “Lions of the North“, Highlands Park, while Chiefs visit Huntersfield to play Kathorus Hyper Academy.

Match Day 21 Fixture List

Saturday

Sevens Academy vs East Rand Athletic Club
School of Excellence vs SuperSport United
RESA vs Tuks
Randburg AFC vs Wits Junior FC
NWU Vaal vs Joburg City
Mamelodi Sundowns vs Jomo Cosmos
Kathorus Hyper Academy vs Kaizer Chiefs
Panorama FC vs Highlands Park

Sunday

Rosina Sedibane Modiba vs TS Galaxy

Match Day 19 Results

TS Galaxy 3-0 East Rand Athletic Club
SuperSport United 0-2 Tuks
Sevens Academy 4-2 Wits Junior
School of Excellence 0-2 Highlands Park
Rosina Sedibane Modiba Sports School vs Joburg City (postponed)
RESA 1-2 Jomo Cosmos
Randburg AFC 0-2 Kaizer Chiefs
Panorama FC 2-0 Kathorus Hyper Academy
NWU Vaal FC 0-5 Mamelodi Sundowns 

Match Day 20 Results

East Rand Athletic Club 3-2 SuperSport United
TS Galaxy 4-1 Sevens Academy
Tuks 2-1 School of Excellence
Wits Junior 2-1 Rosina Sedibane Modiba Sports School
Highlands Park 6-0 RESA
Joburg City 2-0 Randburg AFC
Jomo Cosmos 1-0 Panorama FC
Kaizer Chiefs 3-0 NWU Vaal FC 

Kathorus Hyper Academy vs Mamelodi Sundowns (Postponed due to facility issues)

With the 2024 u17 Cosafa Championship scheduled for December, a little over three months away, the South African Football Association (Safa) is ramping up the South Africa u17 team’s preparations for the showpiece event.

The side, fondly known as “Amajimbos“, is set to travel to Lesotho later this month for two international friendly matches against the Likuena of Lesotho on 16 and 18 August.

The fixtures will serve to build the South Africans’ international experience, camaraderie, form and general team ahead of the Cosafa Championships.

Before that, the Amajimbos will further bolster their international resume in the Six Nations Talent Development Scheme (TDS) tournament, which takes place in in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, from 2 to 8 September.

“Our junior teams have to continuously be active for us to become a powerhouse when we compete in the Caf u17 Afcon and junior World Cups,” Walter Steenkamp, the Safa Technical Director told safa.net.

“Our TDS program has been very clear from day one, and we intend on ensuring that we produce a quality u17 national team that will participate in the next Fifa u17 World Cup, a team that has adequate international experience.

“As things stand, our players have at least five to six international caps to date, and these two camps will provide them with an opportunity to add to the experience they already have.

“Under the TDS programme, we have already had player camps, played in a Three Nations tournament in Morocco, also played two international friendly matches against Colombia, and will now play against Lesotho and five other African countries in Ivory Coast,” he added.

Running an eye over the 34-player squad, it is refreshing to note that Safa has looked beyond South Africa’s shores to also include South African talent that is being groomed abroad.

SQUAD

Sive Pama (Cape Town City, RSA)
Bokang Leshilo (Mamelodi Sundowns, RSA)
Kamohelo Mareletse (Unattached, RSA)
Lwandiso Radebe (Supersport United, RSA)
Steven Mendes (Kaizer Chiefs, RSA)
Lehlohonolo Mosia (University of Pretoria, RSA)
Ethan Garcia (Joburg City, RSA)
Neo Bohloko (Kaizer Chiefs, RSA)
Luke Holden (Mamelodi Sundowns, RSA)
Ziyanda Mchunu (Kaizer Chiefs, RSA)
Selwyn Stevens (Mamelodi Sundowns, RSA)
Karabo Modika (Mamelodi Sundowns, RSA)
Adriano Adams (Cape Town Spurs, RSA)
Rocco Rocha (Amazulu, RSA)
Thabiso Maya (Mighty Spurs, RSA)
Thabang Mphanya (TS Galaxy, RSA)
Hayden Booysen (Ubuntu FC, RSA)
Anovuyo Mcoqi (Cape Town City, RSA)
Emile Witbooi (Cape Town City, RSA)
Samuel Salminen (Käpylän Pallo, Finland)
Ray Morton (K.A.A Gent, Belgium)
Ezio Panellati (Estoril, Portugal)
Khai Vally (Fulham, England)
Simanga Pedersen (Frederica Academy, USA)
Anando Petit (BV04 Dusseldorf, Germany)
Musa Heitakangas (FC Honka Youth, Finland)
Paulo Da Silva (University of Pretoria, RSA)
Obama Mhlongo (Amazulu, RSA)
Sivuziwe Lonzi (Ubuntu FC, RSA)
Ayanda Madondo (KZN Academy, RSA)
Abulele Dlekedla (Cape Town City, RSA)
Mashudu Tshiovhe (Ramantsha Blackpool, RSA)
Bokamoso Mokokosi (Kaizer Chiefs, RSA)
Khayalethu Mzimela (British Football Academy, RSA)

Almost every team has played 20 of the 34 rounds of fixtures that have been scheduled in the 2024 Gauteng Development League. Currently, Kaizer Chiefs sit atop the standings in the under-19 division.

Mamelodi Sundowns, through circumstances beyond their control, have ceded top spot to their rivals, but the title race remains tight.

Ongama Gcwabe of SuperSport Schools Plus highlights three real title contenders as the league draws towards its business end.

Kaizer Chiefs

Ten weeks have passed since Kaizer Chiefs walked away from a Gauteng Development League fixture without a point. That happened when the Amakhosi crossed swords with coach Surprise Moriri‘s outstanding Mamelodi Sundowns unit.

Since then, Chiefs have run through almost every opponent they have faced, and that long line of successes has included handing Sundowns a first defeat of the season in the Engen Knockout Challenge. As a result, coach David Mathebula‘s side has moved to the top of table.

Chiefs have won 16 of their 20 games, drawn three and lost only once, leaving them on 51 points. Mathebula’s charges have also scored at an average of almost three goals per match and conceded an average of one a game.

Mamelodi Sundowns

Coach Moriri and his team will be slightly disappointed. They’re currently second in the standings, more than halfway through the season, yet they have not yet lost a league fixture. 

However, their campaign’s momentum has been slowed by the postponement of Sundowns’ fixtures over the past two weekends.

Most recently, issues with the facilities at Huntersfield Stadium meant that ‘Downs could not play their fixture against Kathorus Hyper Academy. A week before that, their match at Clapham High against Randburg AFC was postponed because the school was using its facilities for a tournament outside of the Gauteng Development League.

Still, although they trail Chiefs by a point, the Brazilians are well poised to take over at the top once more, with two matches in hand.  

Highlands Park

“The Lions of the North” were down and out in the first few weeks of the season as they failed to fire at the start of their campaign.

At one point, looking at their conservative style of play on the pitch, it seemed that their status as the defending champions was weighing heavily on the players’ shoulders.

Their conservative style of play early in the season helped them put together the league’s best defensive record. They’ve given up only nine goals all season long, but that approach has also meant that goal-scoring has not come easy.

While they’ve netted 31 times, that mark is some way behind the aforementioned title contenders. A six-goal deluge against Remember Elite Sport Academy (RESA) in their most recent outing, however, shows that Highlands Park is on the right track.

Since their slow start, the Balfour Park-based club has dug deep and worked their way back into the top three on the log. With 14 victories in 18 games, they’re only six points adrift of the leaders, Kaizer Chiefs.

Match Day 19 Results

TS Galaxy 3-0 East Rand Athletic Club
SuperSport United 0-2 Tuks
Sevens Academy 4-2 Wits Junior
School of Excellence 0-2 Highlands Park
Rosina Sedibane Modiba Sports School vs Joburg City (postponed)
RESA 1-2 Jomo Cosmos
Randburg AFC 0-2 Kaizer Chiefs
Panorama FC 2-0 Kathorus Hyper Academy
NWU Vaal FC 0-5 Mamelodi Sundowns 

Match Day 20 Results

East Rand Athletic Club 3-2 SuperSport United
TS Galaxy 4-1 Sevens Academy
Tuks 2-1 School of Excellence
Wits Junior 2-1 Rosina Sedibane Modiba Sports School
Highlands Park 6-0 RESA
Joburg City 2-0 Randburg AFC
Jomo Cosmos 1-0 Panorama FC
Kaizer Chiefs 3-0 NWU Vaal FC 

Kathorus Hyper Academy vs Mamelodi Sundowns (Postponed due to facility issues)

A weekend of doubleheaders awaits in the Gauteng Development League, with 18 mouthwatering fixtures set to grace the SuperSport Schools app on mobile devices and SuperSport Schools’ DStv Channel 216.

The weekend starts with a steep challenge for 13th-placed NWU Vaal, who will host log-leading Mamelodi Sundowns at the George Thabe Stadium on Saturday. The following day, they face an equally daunting outing against second placed Kaizer Chiefs at Naturena Village. 

It’s a tough task for coach Tebello Kheswa’s NWU Vaal, who head into their most challenging assignments yet after failing to win any of their last five fixtures.

During that time, Kheswa’s troops have lost to Tuks, SuperSport United, Remember Elite Sport Academy (RESA), and Panorama, while they drew with RESA the first time the teams met.

Meanwhile, Mamelodi Sundowns are unbeaten in the league, while Kaizer Chiefs have lost only once all season long.

Kheswa’s team is not the only one facing a difficult weekend. Kathorus Hyper Academy have their work cut out, too. They visit the Panorama Sports Club on Saturday to face a side that is coached by a tactical mastermind, Boy Gcabashe.

Gcabashe has been the driving force behind the success of the Panorama under-19 side, not only in the league but also in the Engen Knockout Challenge where he has directed them to qualify for three consecutive Engen tournaments, which takes some doing.

On Sunday, Kathorus Hyper welcomes Mamelodi Sundowns to the Huntersfield Stadium to conclude their double-header weekend.

High-flying TS Galaxy hosts the East Rand Athletic Club and Sevens Academy at George Lea Park on Saturday and Sunday, respectively.

RESA faces Jomo Cosmos at President Park on Saturday before travelling to Balfour Park on Sunday to play the defending champions, Highlands Park.

Before hosting RESA on Sunday, Highlands Park will tackle the School of Excellence at Elandsfontein.

Tuks will remain in Pretoria for the weekend. They take on SuperSport United at Eskom Megawatt Park in a Pretoria derby on Saturday before welcoming the School of Excellence to the University of Pretoria Sports Complex on Sunday.

Rosina Sedibane Modiba Sports School is home to Joburg City on Saturday but away at Marks Park on Sunday, where they will match skills with Wits Junior.

Randburg AFC has home ground advantage against Kaizer Chiefs on Saturday. On Sunday, they’re away at Joburg City.

Saturday Fixtures

TS Galaxy vs East Rand Athletic
SuperSport united vs Tuks
Sevens Academy vs Wits Junior
School of Excellence vs Highlands Park
Rosina Sedibane Modiba Sports Schools vs Joburg City
RESA vs Jomo Cosmos
Randburg AFC vs Kaizer Chiefs
Panorama FC vs Kathorus Hyper Academy
NWU Vaal FC vs Mamelodi Sundowns

Sunday Fixtures

East Rand Athletic Clubs vs SuperSport United
TS Galaxy vs Sevens Academy
Tuks vs School of Excellence
Wits Junior vs Rosina Sedibane Modiba Sports School
Highlands Park vs RESA
Joburg City vs Randburg AFC
Jomo Cosmos vs Panorama FC
Kaizer Chiefs vs NWU Vaal FC
Kathorus Hyper Academy vs Mamelodi Sundowns

The weekend’s action in round 18 of the Gauteng Development League (GDL) was overshadowed by a tragic incident in a Stream B match between Jacaranda Callies and West Youth Academy at the Laudium Sports Field in Centurion.

During the match, 15-year-old Thlokomelo Phasa, of West Youth Academy, was struck at close range in the chest from a shot on goal. He dropped to the ground, unconscious. Medics, who were on the scene, tried to resuscitate him, but to no avail.

The GDL announced the news on its various social media platforms, stating: “Sad news in [the] Gauteng Development League as a player [has] lost his life. [We] have confirmed that the [West Youth] Academy has lost one of its players, Tlhokomelo Phasa, while [he was] on duty.”

Meanwhile, in Soweto, Kaizer Chiefs hosted a confident Rosina Sedibane Modiba unit, with the Amakhosi intent on loosening Mamelodi Sundowns‘ tight hold on the top spot in the standings.

The Pretoria team gave them a good fight, but the Soweto giants had Rosina’s number at Naturena, registering a 2-1 victory to move within five points of ‘Downs at the summit.

A long list of games was postponed for a variety of reasons, which meant Sundowns, Randburg AFC, East Rand Athletic Club, School of Excellence, Jomo Cosmos, and Tuks weren’t in action.

TS Galaxy outclassed Wits Junior, winning 3-0, to further compound the relegation concerns of Wits in a Saturday showdown.

NWU Vaal lost 1-2 to Panorama FC, while, in a bit of an upset, Kathorus Hyper Academy pulled off a 3-2 win over Remember Elite Sport Academy (RESA).

Third placed Highlands Park kept their challenge rolling along with a tight 2-1 victory over SuperSport United.

The weekend’s schedule was completed on Sunday with a meeting between Joburg City and Sevens Academy, which Joburg won by a 3-1 margin.

U19 Results

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

Match Day two of the second half of the Gauteng Development League returns to SuperSport Schools Channel 216 screens this weekend after a cracking first week of action following the mid-year break

Log leaders Mamelodi Sundowns dropped points last week, as they were held to a goalless draw at home by Rosina Sedibane Modiba Sports School. Prior to that fixture, Sundowns had been beaten in the final of the Engen Knockout by Kaizer Chiefs.

The loss to the Soweto Giants appears to have taken some spark out of a team that dominated the league in the first half of the season.

Coach Surprise Moriri’s unit pressed Rosina hard but were met with equal pressure as the visitors rose to the challenge and defied the odds to travel back to Pretoria with an all-important point – a feat few would have backed them to achieve.

This week, ‘Downs will host a wounded Randburg AFC unit, which went down 2-3 to Panorama in their last outing.

On the other hand, Rosina will take confidence from their performance against Sundowns into another tough fixture. They face second-placed Kaizer Chiefs at Naturena. Coach David Mathebula‘s Chiefs side is in good form, having followed up their win over the Brazilians with a 4-2 defeat of a struggling Sevens Academy team.

In the south-east of Johannesburg, in Katlehong’s Huntersfield Stadium, Remember Elite Sports Academy (RESA) will host Kathorus Hyper Academy.

RESA heads into the clash off the back of a 2-1 win over NWU Vaal, courtesy of an exceptional goal from Tumelo Miya in the fourth minute and a 49th-minute stunner from Tlholo Moletsane. That victory was their eighth of the season and has them sitting in a strong sixth position on the log

Fifth-placed TS Galaxy travels to Marks Park to face relegation candidates Wits Junior. Having beaten Joburg City 4-1 last week, TS Galaxy is expected to have a relatively easy outing despite playing away from home.

East Rand Athletic Club tackles Tuks at Tsakane Stadium, Highlands Park clashes with SuperSport United at Balfour Park in a mouthwatering matchup, and Jomo Cosmos welcomes the School of Excellence to the Rand Stadium.

Under 19 Full Results (13 July 2024)
Mamelodi Sundowns 0-0 Rosina Sedibane Modiba Sports School
Remember Elite Sports Academy 2-1 North West University Vaal
Sevens Academy 2-4 Kaizer Chiefs
Wits Junior 1-2 East Rand Athletic Club
Randburg AFC 2-3 Panorama FC
SuperSport United 1-1 Jomo Cosmos
TS Galaxy 4-1 Joburg City

Nearly four weeks have passed since there was last action in the Gauteng Development League, with the Engen Knockout Competition taking centre stage during the mid-year break.

As the second half of the competition gets underway this week, Mamelodi Sundowns will be aiming to extend their unbeaten run when they lock horns with Rosina Sedibane Sports School at Clapham High School on Saturday.

The Brazilians are top of the table and have scored a very healthy 49 goals in their 16 matches while conceding only 12. That makes them the highest scorers and the owners of the second stingiest defence in the league. Their record is a sparkling 15 wins and one draw.

Rosina carries six losses, five victories and five draws into the second half of the season. They occupy 10th place in the standings, six spots above the relegation zone.

Facing a dominant Sundowns side, under the tutelage of coach Surprise Moriri, Rosina will have their work cut out for them this weekend. However, they will take heart from Kaizer Chiefs‘ recent victory over the table-toppers in the Engen Knockout Final last week, which proved that Downs are fallible.

Chiefs, meanwhile, travel to the Alberton Football Club to tackle a struggling Sevens Academy side.

Even though they are playing away from home, second-placed Chiefs are expected to make light work of their opponents. The Amakhosi have 39 points, 24 clear of their opposition.

In other fixtures, bottom-of-the-log Wits Junior welcomes East Rand Athletic Club to Marks Park as they seek to engineer a turnaround of their dismal campaign.

Tuks host the defending champions, Highlands Park – the club with the best defensive record, in case you were wondering who that was – at the University of Pretoria Sports Campus, while TS Galaxy takes on Joburg City at George Lea Park, and SuperSport United goes up against Jomo Cosmos at Eskom Megawatt Park.


School of Excellence and Kathorus Hyper Academy meet at Elandsfontein, while NWU Vaal and Remember Elite Sports Academy do battle at President Park.

The fixtures wrap up with Randburg AFC hosting Panorama FC at the Randburg Sports Complex.