RESA to host the second round of the u16 GWDL
Eleven teams will make a long drive to President Park in Vereeniging, the home of the Remember Elite Sports Academy (RESA), on Sunday for the second round of the u16 Gauteng Women’s Development League (GWDL) season.
The response to the introduction of women’s football at RESA, which serves the Vaal Triangle – Vereeniging, Vanderbijlpark and Sasolburg – has been exceptionally strong.
Chairman of the club, Xolani Mathumbo, has described the academy as a close-knit family. Every staff member from the top management down is a football enthusiast, he said.
RESA also takes pride in being a part of the emerging talent pool and nurturing bright prospects, not only for the Gauteng region but also for the future of women’s football, he added.
The academy has a proven track record in the men’s game, producing a long list of professional footballers, football administrators and influential figures in South African society.
Simeon Lekhooana, who coaches the RESA u16 GWDL team, said the academy is not only focussed on developing footballers, but it is also about helping men and women to develop as individuals.
In the first round of the GWDL, RESA was too hot for the West Youth Academy to handle and powered their way to an 8-0 victory.
In their second match of the round, they continued their winning streak, defeating Tornado FC 4-1.
Heading into this weekend’s fixtures, RESA lies second on the GWDL log, just behind the dominant Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies’ team. Both clubs remain undefeated, with Kempton Park FC in third place and JVW in fourth place. The top four are separated by goal difference only.
With home-ground advantage, RESA will hope to challenge Mamelodi Sundowns for the top spot. They tackle Panorama FC in their first match on Sunday and then take on third-placed Kempton Park in a key contest.
Log-leading Sundowns, who put 14 goals past the West Youth Academy, will face Tornado FC in their next match, followed by a fixture against Panorama.
Fixtures
09:00 – Field 1 – Highlands Park vs Refilwe FC
09:00 – Field 2 – Kenneth FC vs Origin FC
10:30 – Field 1 – JVW vs West Youth Academy
10:30 – Field 2 – Kempton Park vs Tuks
10:30 – Field 1 – Mamelodi Sundowns vs Tornado FC
11:45 – Field 2 – Panorama FC vs RESA
11:45 – Field 1 – Origin FC vs Highlands Park
12:45 – Field 2 – Edenvale FC vs Refilwe FC
12:45 – Field 1 – West Youth Academy vs Kenneth FC
13:45 – Field 2 – Tornado FC vs JVW
13:45 – Field 1 – RESA vs Kempton Park
15:00 – Field 2 – Panorama FC vs Mamelodi Sundowns
