Thrilling GDL clashes lined up at u19 festival

Following in the footsteps of the recent success of the u13 Gauteng Development League (GDL) festival, the GDL is set to captivate its supporters with another festival, this time featuring the u19 division, on Sunday, 21 September, at Sicelo Stadium, in Midvaal.

Catch the action LIVE on SuperSport Schools

Kathorus Hyper Academy, one of the feelgood stories of the 2025 season, kicks off the action at 9:00 against SuperSport United.

The Pretoria club, while still in the chase for the GDL title, has fallen a little off the pace in recent weeks, and they’ll be focused on reestablishing their challenge by bagging another win.

They’re up against a well-organised Kathorus team, which has ascended from the lower rungs of the standings up to a laudable seventh place, only six points behind Kaizer Chiefs, in sixth.

Chiefs, surprisingly, have not been part of the title race thus far, and Kathorus, with a game in hand, could draw even closer to the AmaKhosi with another victory. Their form in the second half of the season has been hugely impressive and a top five finish by season’s end is not out of the question.

Of course, achieving that high finish will also depend on how teams like Chiefs, Remember Elite Sport Academy (RESA), and others, including Panorama FC and Jomo Cosmos, who are just behind Kathorus on goal difference, fare.

Sunday’s clash with SuperSport United will be another tough examination for Kathorus Hyper Academy, but, just as much, it will be a stern test of SuperSport’s title aspirations.

Another highlight of Saturday’s festival will be a Tshwane derby between Mamelodi Sundowns and the University of Pretoria (Tuks). Not only will three points be on the line, but bragging rights, too.

The Brazilians‘ game against Jomo Cosmos last week was postponed because many of their players were in action for Clapham High in the Kay Motsepe Gauteng Provincial Championships, which they won to earn the right to represent Gauteng in the Kay Motsepe National Schools Championship.

It was a momentous occasion for Kristopher Bergman, who achieved the milestone of delivering a first Kay Motsepe Championship trophy for Clapham in his inaugural year as coach for both Sundowns and the school, which serves as a feeder to the youth teams of Mamelodi Sundowns.

While Bergman’s team enjoyed success in the Kay Motsepe Gauteng Provincial Championship, Highlands Park took advantage of Sundowns’ absence to improve their points tally with a confident 3-0 victory at Kaizer Chiefs, which has left the Brazilians nine points behind the defending champions, although they have two matches in hand.

They will, however, need to turn those games in hand into points. They can’t afford to slip up, including on Sunday against Tuks.

In other u19 GDL Festival matches, RESA faces the School of Excellence, while Panorama takes on Chiefs, who will be desperate to get back to winning ways after their sobering loss at home to Highlands Park.

While the u19 festival will be in the spotlight, there will be other GDL action on the go on Saturday.

TS Galaxy and Joburg City meet at the 3rd Square Stadium, while Jomo Cosmos welcomes Rockefvs to the JC Training Grounds.

At Tsakane Stadium, East Rand Athletic Club plays host to Seven’s Academy, who scored a scintillating 4-3 victory over high-flying Randburg AFC last weekend. Wits Junior takes on Highlands Park at Marks Park.

On Sunday, Randburg and Elspark United, who aren’t part of the GDL festival, do battle at the Randburg Sports Complex.

FIXTURES

Saturday, 20 September

14:00 

3rd Square Stadium
TS Galaxy vs Joburg City

14:30

JC Training Grounds
Jomo Cosmos vs Rockefvs

Tsakane Stadium
East Rand Athletic Stadium vs Seven’s Academy

15:00

Marks Park
Wits Junior vs Highlands Park

Sunday, 21 September 

Sicelo Stadium (Midvaal)

09:00 – Kathorus vs SuperSport United
11:00 – RESA vs School of Excellence
13:00 – Mamelodi Sundowns vs Tuks
15:00 – Panorama FC vs Kaizer Chiefs

Randburg Sports Complex 

15:30 – Randburg vs Elspark United

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Siya Pongco

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

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