Chiefs’ Msimango continues hot streak, Highlands Park regains form
Just five games into the season, the Gauteng Development League (GDL) is delivering bucketloads of excitement.
On the weekend, that excitement included a win for last season’s runner-up, Highlands Park, over the reigning champions, Mamelodi Sundowns, while Kaizer Chiefs’ Njabulo Msimango scored four in a 6-0 win over Jomo Cosmos.
Msimango has been one of the standout players in the season’s early weeks. So far, he has netted seven goals, which were boosted by his extraordinary return of four goals against EzeNkosi at the Kaizer Chiefs Village on Saturday. Matthew Sinclair shone, too, netting the other two for Chiefs.
Goals were not in short supply on Saturday. Kathorus Hyper Academy scored a big win, handing Joburg City, who entered the weekend in second place, a 3-0 loss.
Aobakwe Ntseki was in fine form, firing in a hat trick. Tumelo Mokoena provided assists on Ntseki’s first two goals, while Mojalefa Nyelele laid on the third as Kathorus picked up three points.
Rockevfs claimed a 4-1 victory over Seven’s Academy, with Itebogeng Maake scoring the opening goal within the first 10 minutes, thanks to the service of Iminathi Bala.
Remothabetse Dithathe added a second eight minutes into the second half, with Maake turning provider. Thabang Mokoena converted a penalty for the third goal, and Phetogo Phetlele rounded off the scoring, thanks to an assist from Dithathe.
Panorama and the East Rand Athletic Club entertained, with a five-goal game going Panorama’s way by a 3-2 margin. Sangesonke Klaas set up Ali Makwanazi for the opener. Klaas then teed up Vukona Mawila for Panorama’s second, and Mawila played in Mxolisi Ngobese for Panorama’s third.
The league leaders, Siwelele, won their fifth match on the trot, scoring a 2-0 victory away from home against Remember Elite Sport Academy (RESA).
Siwelele’s breakthrough came only 14 minutes into the game through an own goal as RESA tried to defend a ball from Kyle Troskie. The next goal belonged to Troskie, however, and the win took Siwelele to the maximum possible haul of 15 points.
After their win over Seven’s Academy, Rockefvs is in second, with 12 points, while Kathorus and Future of Africa, with 10 points each, occupy third and fourth places, respectively.
Some of Saturday’s matches were tight affairs, dominated by defences. The clash between the University of Pretoria (Tuks) and Randburg was decided by a Junior Khoza goal, which gave Tuks a 1-0 victory and all three points on offer.
Future of Africa won by the same margin against Africa School of Excellence, with Neo Makgobatlou converting a penalty after Okhule Chiya was fouled in the penalty area.
On Sunday, in a highly anticipated match at Clapham High School, Mamelodi Sundowns hosted Highlands North. It was an especially important litmus test for the Lions of the North. They had opened the season with three successive losses before winning against the Prestige Football Development Academy last week. Were they on their way back, or was their win a mirage?
In a showdown between the winners of the last three GDL titles – Highlands Park lifted the trophy in 2023 and 2024 – the visitors rose to the occasion, handing Sundowns a 1-0 defeat.
The win has lifted Highlands Park to ninth on the GDL table with six points after five matches. They’re still behind the Brazilians, who also have six points, but they’ve played one game less, and they have a better goal difference.
RESULTS
Saturday, 11 April
Rockefvs 4-1 Seven’s Academy
Siwelele 2-0 RESA
Kathorus 3-0 Joburg City
Tuks 1-0 Randburg
Panorama 3-2 East Rand Athletic Club
Kaizer Chiefs 6-0 Jomo Cosmos
Future of Africa 1-0
Wits vs Prestige (Walkover Wits win)
Sunday, 12 April
Highlands Park 1-0 Mamelodi Sundowns
