Reflections on the state of the GWDL through four weeks of the season
Into its second season, the Gauteng Women’s Development League (GWDL), which now sports u14 and u16 divisions, is going from strength to strength, with strong backing from dedicated supporters, who come out of in full force on Sundays to cheer on the girls as they show off their skills on the field.
Whether in Roodepoort or Vereeniging or in the heart of Johannesburg, the league is pulling in supporters.
Now, heading into week four of the 2024 season, Mamelodi Sundowns top the u14 league table while JVW tops the u16 table, followed by Sundowns, a point behind but with a game in hand. Sundowns have stolen the show week in and week out and have been in dominant form in the league. However, they are not without competition, with the GWDL having started to reveal its potential for surprising upsets.
In the u14 division, the pacesetting Sundowns are being chased by Refilwe FC, JVW and Origin FC, with those three clubs having all accumulated 13 points so far. That leaves them two points adrift of the log leaders, who also have the advantage of a game in hand.
Meanwhile, in the u16 division, an intense battle for the title is unfolding. Remember Elite Sports Academy (RESA) has 15 points, the same as Mamelodi Sundowns, with JVW, at the top, one point ahead of them. Highlands Park, the runners-up of the 2023 GWDL, are also in the mix, on 13 points, in fourth position.
More than 100 goals have been scored in both divisions, which reflects kindly on the sharp shooting abilities of the teams. Some clubs, though, are finding it tough sledding. West Youth Academy and Edenvale have yet to secure a win in the u16 division, while Highlands Park and West Youth Academy, in the u14 division, will need to focus on improvements at both ends of the field.
The abundance of goals being scored, highlights the attacking nature of the football being played, which delivers entertainment for spectators. That, however, should also serve as a warning to defenders and coaches that more work is needed on defensive strategies.
Winning, thankfully, is not the sole focus of many coaches, who have emphasised the importance of nurturing young players towards excellence, on and off the field, regardless of whether they wish to pursue a professional career in football or not.
U14 Gauteng Women’s Development League: Log Standings
Club | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | PTS | |
1 | Mamelodi Sundowns | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 21 | 1 | 20 | 15 |
2 | Refilwe FC | 6 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 19 | 6 | 13 | 13 |
3 | JVW FC | 6 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 9 | 5 | 3 | 13 |
4 | Origin FC | 6 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 9 | 8 | 1 | 13 |
5 | RESA | 5 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 10 | 5 | 5 | 9 |
6 | TUKS | 5 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 8 | 6 | 2 | 7 |
7 | Tornado Academy Ladies | 6 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 6 | 6 | 0 | 7 |
8 | Kempton Park FC | 6 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 7 | -3 | 7 |
9 | Panorama FC | 5 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 7 | 4 | -3 | 6 |
10 | Kenneth FC | 5 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 5 | -2 | 5 |
11 | Edenvale FC | 5 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 25 | -23 | 3 |
12 | Highlands Park | 6 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 8 | -8 | 2 |
13 | West Youth Academy | 6 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 11 | -11 | 1 |
U16 Gauteng Women’s Development League: Log Standings
Club | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | PTS | |
1 | JVW | 6 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 23 | 4 | 19 | 16 |
2 | Mamelodi Sundowns | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 26 | 2 | 24 | 15 |
3 | RESA | 5 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 17 | 1 | 16 | 15 |
4 | Highlands Park | 5 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 17 | 3 | 14 | 13 |
5 | TUKS | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 11 | 3 | 8 | 10 |
6 | Panorama FC | 6 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 12 | 10 | 2 | 7 |
7 | Tornado FC | 6 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 13 | 2 | 7 |
8 | Kempton Park FC | 6 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 14 | 12 | -8 | 6 |
9 | Kenneth FC | 6 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 10 | 13 | -3 | 5 |
10 | Football Origin | 6 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 10 | -5 | 5 |
11 | Refilwe FC | 5 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 6 | 12 | -6 | 4 |
12 | Edenvale FC | 5 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 2 | 30 | -28 | 0 |
13 | West Youth Academy | 6 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 3 | 38 | -35 | 0 |
Fixtures: u14 GWDL at Panorama FC, 12 May
09:00 – Field 1 – Edenvale FC vs Panorama FC
09:00 – Field 2 – Refilwe FC vs Origin FC
10:30 – Field 1 – RESA vs Mamelodi Sundowns
10:30 – Field 2 – Tornado Ladies vs Kempton Park
11:45 – Field 1 – TUKS vs Kenneth FC
11:45 – Field 2 – West Youth Academy vs JVW FC
12:45 – Field 1 – Origin FC vs Edenvale FC
12:45 – Field 2 – Mamelodi Sundowns vs Panorama FC
13:45 – Field 1 – Kempton Park vs Refilwe FC
13:45 – Field 2 – Kenneth FC vs RESA
15:00 – Field 1 – JVW FC vs Tornado FC
15:00 – Field 2 – Highlands Park vs TUKS
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