Gauteng Development League | Top Eight semi-finalists confirmed
Despite showers of rain all over Gauteng on the weekend, the Gauteng Development League (GDL) Top Eight competition lit up the province with four mouthwatering contests in the first action of the 2025 season.
At Balfour Park, last season’s league champions, Highlands Park, welcomed the School of Excellence, and, boy, were they subjected to a run for their money in a fixture that many expected coach Sifiso Mnguni’s “Lions of the North” to see out with relative ease.
Instead, the School of Excellence delivered an outstanding performance to remind not only Highlands Park but the whole Gauteng football fraternity that they remain a powerhouse when it comes to academy football in South Africa.
After a hard-fought 90 minutes, the sides were level at 1-1, which sent the contest to a penalty shootout. Highlands Park held their nerve to sneak a 5-4 victory from the spot and with that earned a place in the semi-finals of the competition.
At Clapham High, Mamelodi Sundowns and the University of Pretoria (Tuks), met in a highly anticipated Tshwane derby.
Coach Surprise Moriri’s Sundowns u19 side, despite finishing second in the 2024 GDL, had to endure some difficult spells during the season. On Saturday, though, they were on song and cruised to a 4-1 victory over Tuks.
Goals from Simphiwe Mlondo, Chuene Moabelo, Sechaba Gaseitsiwe, and Kgaogelo Monanyane ensure a smooth passage into the semifinals for the “Kabo Yellow“.
‘Downs displayed high-paced attacking football throughout the encounter and they were spot on with their defensive tactics, too, which proved to be too much for their Tshwane neighbours to handle.
SuperSport United ran out 2-0 winners over TS Galaxy 2-0 to advance, while, on Sunday, Kaizer Chiefs, under the guidance of coach David Mathebula, beat Jomo Cosmos 1-0.
RESULTS
Kaizer Chiefs 1-0 Jomo Cosmos
Highlands Park (5) 1-1 (4) School of Excellence
SuperSport United 2-0 TS Galaxy
Mamelodi Sundowns 4-1 Tuks
