{"id":85078,"date":"2025-10-17T14:21:58","date_gmt":"2025-10-17T12:21:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ssschoolsplus.co.za\/?p=85078"},"modified":"2025-10-17T14:21:58","modified_gmt":"2025-10-17T12:21:58","slug":"time-to-take-out-the-calculators-as-gdl-heads-towards-its-conclusion","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/test.ssschoolsplus.co.za\/?p=85078","title":{"rendered":"Time to take out the calculators as GDL heads towards its conclusion"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"\"
Mamelodi Sundowns faces a crucial weekend, with two must-win matches on their schedule and no margin for error if they are to challenge for the GDL title. Photo: Mondli Dube.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

After a quieter four-match weekend, the Gauteng Development League (GDL)<\/strong> returns with a full schedule this weekend, with the pressure dialled up to the maximum as the season nears its conclusion.<\/p>\n

Catch the action LIVE on SuperSport Schools<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n

Highlands Park <\/strong>leads the way and is positioned to win the GDL title for a third year in succession, but Mamelodi Sundowns <\/strong>are chomping at their heels and ready to pounce if the Lions of the North<\/strong> <\/em>slip up.<\/p>\n

The Brazilians<\/em> <\/strong>face a tough challenge this weekend, however. They have a game in hand, but they’ll make it up by playing a double-header. On Saturday, they host Seven’s Academy<\/strong> at Clapham High<\/strong>. Then, on Sunday, they travel to Roodepoort for a showdown with Panorama<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

On paper, Sundowns should be favoured in both matches, but the GDL season has been anything but predictable and anything could happen.<\/p>\n

With four games remaining, Sundowns has 68 points and could reach a maximum of 80 if they win all of them. Highlands Park, on the other hand, has three games left and could tally 83 points with victories in all three.<\/p>\n

It is, however, advantage to Highlands Park, with Sundowns needing the two-time defending champions to drop points if they are to take over at the top.<\/p>\n

While Sundowns are favoured against Seven’s Academy, they’re also under significant pressure to perform, and it will not be an easy match for either side. Sundowns’ coach, Kristopher Bergman<\/strong><\/a>, told SuperSport Schools Plus<\/strong><\/a> in August that in the GDL every game must be fought for, and no results are assured.<\/p>\n

Highlands Park, who will be heading to Pretoria to play the University of Pretoria (Tuks)<\/strong> on Sunday, will, no doubt, keep a close eye on the Sundowns versus Seven’s Academy match.<\/p>\n

\"\"
After winning a bronze medal at the Engen Champ of Champs, Panorama shift its attention back the GDL, with matches on Saturday and Sunday. Photo: Mondli Dube<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Sundowns will have their own road game on Sunday, and it will be a tester, taking on Panorama at the Panorama Sports Ground<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Panorama was in action in the Engen Champs of Champs<\/strong><\/a> last weekend, where they secured a bronze medal by defeating Junior Birds<\/strong> 5-0 in the third-place playoff.<\/p>\n

The title went to Cape Town City<\/strong>, who defeated Chippa United<\/strong> 3-0 in the final.<\/p>\n

Panorama’s recent performances in the GDL have been mixed, though. Last week, ahead of the Engen Champ of Champs, they they lost a derby match to Randburg, going down 0-1<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n

The Roodepoort club also has a Saturday match on their schedule. They take a trip to Vereeniging to face third placed Remember Elite Sport Academy<\/strong> (RESA)<\/strong> at President Park Stadium<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Kaizer Chiefs<\/strong><\/a>, after a 3-2 win over Jomo Cosmos<\/strong> <\/a>last weekend, leave Kaizer Chiefs Village<\/strong> for a game against Rockefvs<\/strong> at the ACCP Grounds<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Jomo Cosmos takes on Wits Junior<\/strong> at the Rand Stadium<\/strong>, while the School of Excellence<\/strong> has two matches to play. On Saturday, they take on Elspark United<\/strong> at Elandfontein. Then, on Sunday, they meet the East Rand Athletic Club<\/strong> at the same venue.<\/p>\n

Joburg City<\/strong> welcomes SuperSport United<\/strong> to the Greek Sporting Club<\/strong>, while Kathorus Hyper Academy<\/strong> and East Rand Athletic Club meet at Tsakane Stadium<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

TS Galaxy<\/strong> is scheduled to host Randburg<\/strong> at the 3rd Square Stadium<\/strong> in Alexandra.<\/p>\n

FIXTURES<\/strong><\/p>\n

Saturday, 18 October<\/strong><\/p>\n

14:00<\/strong><\/p>\n

TS Galaxy vs Randburg,\u00a03rd Square Stadium<\/p>\n

15:00<\/strong><\/p>\n

Mamelodi Sundowns vs Seven’s Academy, Clapham High School
\nJoburg City vs SuperSport United,\u00a0Greek Sporting Club
\nSchool of Excellence vs Elspark United,\u00a0Elandsfontein Park
\nJomo Cosmos vs Wits Junior,\u00a0Rand Stadium
\nRESA vs Panorama, President Park
\nRockefvs vs Kaizer Chiefs,\u00a0ACCP Grounds
\nEast Rand Athletic vs Kathorus,\u00a0Tsakane Stadium<\/p>\n

Sunday, 19 October<\/strong><\/p>\n

15:00<\/p>\n

Tuks vs Highlands Park, University of Pretoria
\nPanorama vs Mamelodi Sundowns,\u00a0Panorama Sports Ground
\nSchool of Excellence vs East Rand Athletic, Elandsfontein<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

After a quieter four-match weekend, the Gauteng Development League (GDL) returns with a full schedule this weekend, with the pressure dialled up to the maximum as the season nears its conclusion. Catch the action LIVE on SuperSport Schools. Highlands Park leads the way and is positioned to win the GDL title for a third year […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":27,"featured_media":85086,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-85078","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/test.ssschoolsplus.co.za\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/85078","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/test.ssschoolsplus.co.za\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/test.ssschoolsplus.co.za\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/test.ssschoolsplus.co.za\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/27"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/test.ssschoolsplus.co.za\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=85078"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/test.ssschoolsplus.co.za\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/85078\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/test.ssschoolsplus.co.za\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/85086"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/test.ssschoolsplus.co.za\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=85078"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/test.ssschoolsplus.co.za\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=85078"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/test.ssschoolsplus.co.za\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=85078"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}