GDL Weekend Recap: Victories for Rockefvs, Siwelele and Sundowns
A highly competitive race is unfolding at the top of the Gauteng Development League (GDL), with Rockefvs leading the way. They’re on 26 points, two ahead of second-placed Siwelele, but the Pretoria club has a game in hand.
Rockefvs has been the season’s surprise package, thus far. As the pressure has amped up, they’ve stood strong. However, it’s only going to get more intense as the fixtures pile up.
Another team from Pretoria, the defending champions Mamelodi Sundowns, who have two games in hand, secured a narrow 2-1 victory over Jomo Cosmos on Sunday.
It was the second game of the weekend for Cosmos, who recorded a 1-0 victory over Panorama on Saturday.
On Sunday, in the Bafana Ba Style against EzeNkosi clash, Antoine Bumba, assisted by Daylin Tiemie, scored the first goal for Sundowns. Fusi Mokhampane then set up Thando Singo for the winning goal.
After 10 matches, the Brazilians have registered seven wins, one draw, and two losses. They’re in third place, four points behind Rockefvs, but with two games in hand. Wins those and they’ll vault into a familiar place at the top of the log. Slip up, and Joburg City and Kaizer Chiefs are waiting to make their move.
On Saturday, Itebogeng Maake, a key contributor to Rockefvs’ success this season, netted the game’s only goal in a tight 1-0 victory over Wits Juniors.
Siwelele also won, defeating Seven’s Academy 3-0 on Saturday, which also helped to improve their goal difference.
Joburg City, in fourth place, handed the Prestige Football Development Academy a 2-1 defeat, with Siyabonga Masango netting both goals for Joburg City.
Highlands Park, last season’s runner-up, continues to improve its log standing after making a slow start to the season. They’re up to ninth after a narrow 2-1 victory against Randburg, who scored late in the game. That gave them hope of rescuing a draw, and the Lions of the North had to withstand heavy pressure in the closing minutes to hang onto the win.
Remember Elite Sport Academy (RESA) registered a comfortable 3-0 victory over Pitso Mosimane Youth Football (PMYF). Bandile Sithole opened the scoring, with an assist from Nceba Jozela, who then turned goal scorer to make it 2-0. Enslee Oliphant, who set up Jozela for his goal, also assisted Thabang Masihla for RESA’s third.
One match failed to deliver goals, with Future of Africa and Kathorus Hyper Academy settling for a goalless draw.
RESULTS
Saturday, 23 May
Jomo Cosmos 1-0 Panorama
Joburg City 2-1 Prestige
RESA 3-0 PMYF
Future of Africa 0-0 Kathorus
Siwelele 3-0 Seven’s Academy
Rockefvs 1-0 Wits
Highlands Park 2-1 Randburg
Sunday
Mamelodi Sundowns 2-1 Jomo Cosmos
