Must-win game for Highlands Park as RESA comes to town
The weekend’s football action in the Gauteng Development League (GDL) features a clash with potential title implications, with Highlands Park hosting Remember Elite Sport Academy (RESA) at Balfour Park.
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It’s an important game for both sides. A home victory for the Lions of the North would, at least, see them retain their lead over second-placed Mamelodi Sundowns. At the same time, a win would mean building a bigger advantage over third-placed RESA.
A win for RESA would instil hope for a fairytale outcome. Winning the title would be considered a minor miracle, while finishing second would still be a spectacular achievement for the Vereeniging club.
Highlands Park has a reputation for handling the big moments well, however. Their BMT has been evident in the past two seasons when they went back-to-back as GDL champions. RESA, though, has kept rolling this season and they’re playing very good football of late.
Last weekend, both sides won, with RESA demonstrating strong goal-scoring ability in an impressive 6-0 win over Elspark United Academy. Highlands Park was made to work hard by East Rand Athletic Club, but as they so often do, they came away with all three points on offer after a close 2-1 victory.
Saturday’s showdown is likely to reflect a tactical battle, masterminded by the coaches, Sandile Mathumbo, of RESA, and Sfiso Mnguni, of Highland Park. With the stakes raised, a cracking encounter is on the cards.
SuperSport United, has fallen out of title contention in the latter part of the season. They’ll be eager to regain the winning form they exhibited earlier in the year when they take on Rockefvs at Megawatt Park.
Elspark United, following a heavy loss to RESA will try to reverse their fortunes when they host the University of Pretoria (Tuks) at Elspark Sports Ground.
Seven’s Academy is at home to School of Excellence. Both teams have experienced mixed fortunes this season. The School of Excellence, once one of the standard setters, has fallen off the pace in recent years, and last week they went down 0-2 to Mamelodi Sundowns.
While they didn’t lose last weekend, Seven’s Academy had to settle for only one point after a 2-2 draw against Tuks. With the league nearing its conclusion, accumulating points has become more crucial than ever and Seven’s Academy and the School of Excellence will go at it hammer and tongs at Woodlands International College.
In other matches on Saturday, Randburg hosts Kathorus Hyper Academy, another team whose form has dipped after they went on a good run earlier in the second round of league matches, while Wits Junior tackles TS Galaxy at Marks Park.
Last weekend, TS Galaxy’s game against Kaizer Chiefs was postponed due to safety concerns about the pitch. They’ll be well-rested.
Chiefs, meanwhile, host Jomo Cosmos at the Kaizer Chiefs Village on Sunday, while Joburg City duels with East Rand Athletic Club at the Greek Sporting Club.
FIXTURES
Saturday, 11 October
15:00
Woodlands International College
Seven’s Academy vs School of Excellence
Elspark Sports Ground
Elspark United vs Tuks
Randburg Sports Complex
Randburg vs Kathorus
Megawatt Park
SuperSport United vs Rockefvs
Balfour Park
Highlands Park vs RESA
Marks Park
Wits Junior vs TS Galaxy
Sunday, 12 October
14:00
Kaizer Chiefs Village
Kaizer Chiefs vs Jomo Cosmos
Greek Sporting Club
Joburg City vs East Rand Athletic Club
