Checking in on the GDL’s bottom three ahead of match week nine
For some teams, the young Gauteng Development League season has been a series of steep learning curves. Certainly, the bottom three – Panorama FC, Wits Junior and NWU Vaal – have been on the receiving end of some harsh lessons over the course of the first eight rounds.
SuperSport Schools Plus‘ Ongama Gcwabe looks at the state of affairs within the league’s three strugglers, who sport only one win between them after a combined 19 games, ahead of the weekend’s ninth round of fixtures.
PANORAMA FC
The 2024 season has been a constant struggle for the Roodepoort-based club. They are currently in 18th place in the standings, at the very bottom of the league, and have failed to register a single victory in their six matches thus far.
When a team concedes almost three goals per game, which is roughly what Panorama FC has conceded this season, the reason why they occupy the bottom rung of the ladder is clear.
Perhaps what is more disappointing is how much their poor start to the season mirrors last season’s slow start, which featured only one victory in their first six outings.
The club from the west side of Johannesburg will need to pick themselves up ahead of round nine and produce far better form if they want to find themselves anywhere near the tenth position they secured at the conclusion of the 2023 season.
On Saturday, they travel to President Park to go toe-to-toe with Remember Elite Sports Academy FC.
WITS JUNIOR
It is difficult to understand how a club that is so successful at the professional level could struggle to the extent that the Wits Junior under-19 team has struggled over the past two seasons. In their 2023 campaign, Wits Junior finished at the very bottom of the log with a staggering 27 losses in 34 league fixtures.
The Marks Park-based unit appears to be on a similar downward trend this season and they, too, are winless after eight rounds of fixtures. They have lost five matches, drawn three, and have conceded 15 goals, which has left them in 17th place in the standings.
They host the defending champions, Highlands Park, at Marks Park on Saturday for their ninth league match.
NWU VAAL
The league’s newbies have had a number of challenges to negotiate this season, and most of them have, disappointingly, been outside the field of play. One of the main issues arose when the club attempted a name change, which led to an extended delay to their opening fixtures.
As a result, they occupy 16th place on the log after five fixtures, with one victory, one drawn game, and three losses.
They will be chasing a second victory of the season on Saturday when they travel to the Rosina Sedibane Media Sports Complex for their sixth league fixture of the season.
Other Fixtures
East Rand Athletic Club vs Randburg AFC at Tsukane Stadium
School of Excellence vs Mamelodi Sundowns at Elandsfontein
Sevens Academy vs Kathorus Hyper Academy at the Alberton Football Club
SuperSport United vs Kaizer Chiefs at Eskom Megawatt Park
TS Galaxy vs Jomo Cosmos at George Lea Park
TUKS vs Joburg City at the University of Pretoria Sports Campus
