Highlands Park FC crowned champions of the Gauteng Development League
By Siya Pongco
Highlands Park FC were crowned the champions of the u19 Gauteng Development League on Sunday. It was a fait accompli as they were already confirmed as champions after a 2-1 win over Rosina Sedibane Modiba Sports School last weekend.
The Lions of the North were dominant. They won 27 of their 34 matches, drew four, and lost only three times. They netted 89 goals and conceded just 21. It was a remarkable season for the club, especially considering the toughness of the league, which is regarded as one of the best on the African continent.
On Sunday afternoon, in their final fixture, Highlands Park faced Joburg City in cold conditions. Neither the weather nor Joburg City could slow the march of the 2023 champions.
In the first half, however, Joburg City enjoyed the better of the contest, but they were unable to convert their opportunities into goals. Meanwhile, Highlands Park remained calm and stuck to their strengths, playing the ball from the back and knocking it around.
After the break, both teams began with pep and vigour. Joburg City, again, created chances without finding finishes.
It looked as if Highlands Park had taken the lead when they had the ball in the Joburg City net, but that goal was disallowed for offsides.
The champions kept up the pressure and eventually forced a penalty out of City. They struck from the spot, and it wasn’t long before they doubled their lead. It ended 2-0.
Soon after the final whistle, it was time for Highlands Park to celebrate a superb season.
The Day of the Champions at the KC Village
Stream A Champs: GDL
Joining Highlands Park on the podium was SuperSport United‘s under-17 side, led by coach Tumi Ndaba.
SuperSport played their last game of the season against Kathorus Hyper Academy, with the Academy looking to play the spoiler by taking a first half lead.
However, in the second half, the champions came back to life and scored two goals to close off an incredibly hard-fought season with another victory.
They did it the hard way after their goalkeeper was sent off. With no substitutions left, midfielder Abel Nyoni stood up and pulled off some dramatic saves in the dying stages of the game, which had the SuperSport United bench on their edge of their seats, cheering on the fill-in net-minder.
The Kaizer Chiefs under-15 side ended their season in fine fashion, defeating TS Galaxy 4-1 at their home ground.
There was a win by the same margin for the Chiefs’ under-13s, also over TS Galaxy, as they claimed the league title.
TS Galaxy played well, closing down spaces and putting in good defensive work, while their goalkeeper pulled off some crucial saves, but they could not stop the champions, who were consistently good throughout the season.
Stream B Champions; GDL Promotional champs
The Alaska Academy u19 side won the GDPL to secure a place in next season’s Gauteng Development League.
NWU Vaal, in their first season, won the under-17 GDPL, and will run out in the Gauteng Development League for the 2024 season.
Meanwhile, the East Rand Athletic Club Football won both the under-13 and under-15 GDPL to secure spots in the GDL.
