SuperSport United sparkle in GDL week two

Football is a great leveller.

Last season, Highlands Park called the shots in the u19 division of the Gauteng Development League (GDL) to such an extent that people wondered what it would take for opposition teams to defeat the team based at Balfour Alexandra Park.

Home or away, it did not really matter, as The Lions of the North asserted their dominance in the division, ruling the Highveld with an iron fist.

Their run was particularly impressive given that the league is filled with some of the giants of South African football, including Mamelodi Sundowns, Kaizer Chiefs and SuperSport United.

However, that was all in 2023 and the new season has brought different fortunes to the “Orange Army” as they are yet to build any momentum. It is still early in the season, but Highlands Park have, thus far, failed to meet expectations.

After opening with a goalless draw at home against Tuks in the opening round of GDL fixtures, they found themselves on the wrong end of a 3-0 score against SuperSport United at Megawatt Park on the weekend.

However, it is hard to fault Highlands Park as very few teams would have been able to stop the magic of Bohlale Ngwato on Saturday afternoon. The youngster had a dream game in which everything he touched put his team on the front foot and, at the same time, hurt the Lions of the North.

Ngwato netted a brace before registering an assist on Michael Alagiozoglou‘s goal. To Highlands Park’s relief, lightning brought SuperSport’s onslaught to a halt with 12 minutes remaining on the board and United comfortably in charge of proceedings.

After stopping the match for 15 minutes, the referee decided it was not safe for play to continue and the game was called off.

It was a disappointing end to SuperSport’s day, but they had plenty of reasons to smile after their u13 and u17 sides recorded wins over their Highlands Park opposition.

Thabang Qina netted a hattrick for United’s u13s, before Mpho Pitsa and Rorisang Taukubong scored a goal each, leaving them 5-0 winners, which set the club up for an almost flawless day out on the pitch.

The u17 team won 3-1 courtesy of a Cruz Rodrigues double and Lwandle Yende‘s solitary goal, and United’s only loss to Highlands Park came in the u15 clash, which they lost 0-2.

In other u19 fixtures, Randburg AFC lost 2-3 at home to Mamelodi Sundowns, while Tuks came away with a 2-1 win over East Rand Athletic Club.

Joburg City and Sevens Academy were involved in an entertaining eight-goal draw while TS Galaxy thrashed Wits Juniors 5-1.

RESULTS

u13

Rosina Sedibane 1-4 Kaizer Chiefs
SuperSport United 5-0 Highlands Park
Tuks 2-2 East Rand Athletic Club
Joburg City 2 – 4 Sevens Academy
TS Galaxy 6-0 Wits Junior
Remember Elite Sport Academy 1-2 Kathorus Hyper Academy
Randburg AFC 4-5 Mamelodi Sundowns

u15

School of Excellence 4-3 Jomo Cosmo
Rosina Sedibane 0-1 Kaizer Chiefs
SuperSport United 0-2 Highlands Park
Tuks 1-1 East Rand Athletic Club
Joburg City 1-0 Sevens Academy
TS Galaxy 1-1 Wits Junior
Remember Elite Sport Academy 1-1 Kathorus Hyper Academy
Randburg AFC 1-2 Mamelodi Sundowns

u17

School of Excellence 3-2 Jomo Cosmos
Rosina Sedibane 1-3 Kaizer Chiefs
SuperSport United 3-1 Highlands Park
Tuks 2-1 East Rand Athletic Club
Joburg City 0-4 Sevens Academy
TS Galaxy 3-3 Wits Junior
Remember Elite Sport Academy 3-2 Kathorus Hyper Academy
Randburg AFC 1-0 Mamelodi Sundowns

u19

School of Excellence 2-1 Jomo Cosmos
Rosina Sedibane 0-2 Kaizer Chiefs
SuperSport United 3-0 Highlands Park (match stopped due to lightning)
Tuks 2-1 East Rand Athletic Club
Joburg City 4-4 Sevens Academy
TS Galaxy 5-1 Wits Junior
Remember Elite Sport Academy 3-1 Kathorus Hyper Academy
Randburg AFC 2-3 Mamelodi Sundowns