COMMENT: Relegation Looms for Kagiso Porto Academy
Only a fortnight remains before the two teams that will be at the mercy of the relegation axe in the Gauteng Development League will be decided. Already, beyond a shadow of doubt, Kagiso Porto Academy is going to find itself on the chopping block.
It has been a gruelling eight months of competitive football, with 18 teams battling it out for the honour of being at the top of the footballing fraternity in the province of Gauteng.
Clubs likes Highlands Park, Mamelodi Sundowns and Kaizer Chiefs have enjoyed successful 2023 campaigns, and they sit comfortably among the top five teams across the divisions.
By contrast, it has been a difficult season for Kagiso Porto Academy, which wasn’t unexpected, because the franchise is in a rebuilding phase.
They are currently bottom of the log in three of the four divisions, while their U19 side is only slightly better positioned, above only Joburg City in the u19 division.
Relegation would mean that Kagiso Porto Academy’s entire programme, which includes the u13s, u15s, u17s and the u19s, would be in a lower league next season despite the u19s’ commendable efforts in their past two fixtures.
The club from Johannesburg West has exhibited good character and no small amount of grit and determination, and it has produced some good football this season but, most importantly, it has consolidated the desire for the game in the football-loving western parts of Johannesburg.
In their two most recent outings, the Kagiso Porto Academy u19s held Kathorus Hyper Academy and Panorama FC to 2-2 draws. However, that won’t be enough to prevent the inevitable drop.
This weekend, they face a tough challenge from log leaders, Highlands Park, on Saturday.
Weekend Fixtures – U19 Dvision:
| Joburg City | Jomo Cosmos FC |
| Kagiso Porto Academy | Highlands Park |
| Kaizer Chiefs FC | Wits Junior |
| Kathorus Hyper Academy | TUKS |
| Mamelodi Sundowns | TS Galaxy |
| Prestige Football Development | Siluma 7 |
| Randburg AFC | School of Excellence |
| Remember Elite Sports Academy | Rosina Sedibane Modiba Sports |
