Rockefvs aiming for a Top 8 spot, says Chairman Mthethwa Dlamini
Since being promoted from the Gauteng Development Promotional League (GDPL) and joining the Gauteng Development League (GDL) in 2025, Rockefvs has successfully navigated the challenges in the higher league. .
The Pretoria club’s u19 team currently leads the standings after nine matches this season, moving to the top last weekend by leap-frogging Siwelele.
In 2025, during an interview with SuperSport Schools News, Rockefvs coach, Thokozani Mnguni, said the GDL presents a different set of challenges from the GDPL, which requires an all-hands-on-deck effort from the team.
Despite having to adjust to those challenges, Rockefvs concluded their first season in the GDL in 13th place, which was a commendable achievement after a long and arduous campaign. They scored 10 wins, drew seven times, and lost 17 matches.
Their u11 team also finished in 11th place, with 13 victories, four draws, and 17 losses, which almost mirrored the performances of the u19 side.
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The Rockefvs u15 team ended the season in 13th place, scoring 10 wins, nine draws, and 15 defeats, while the u14 team dealt with relegation concerns, finishing in 16th place, just two positions above the last place in the standings.
Overall, given the heightened competition, it was a good transitional season.
This coming Saturday, Rockefvs takes on Jomo Cosmos. Ahead of the game, SuperSport Schools News caught up with the Chairman of Rockefvs, Mthethwa Dlamini, also known as Tyse. Dlamini discussed the club’s progress in the GDL, the impressive start of the u19 team to the 2026 GDL season, their strategies to sustain a high standard of performance, and the club’s future prospects.
Dlamini told SuperSport Schools News that the success of the Rockefvs u19 team is a result of a commitment to structured learning and player development.
He said the u19 squad has demonstrated strong determination, which has brought them wins over established academies, including a 4-0 victory over the University of Pretoria (Tuks) at the end of March.
“To sustain this level of performance in the long run, it is essential that a cohesive tactical identity permeates the entire club,” he told SuperSport Schools News.
“Coming to the GDL, the key factors and components were for us to understand the dynamics of the league, being competitive and, of course, keeping to the club’s principles, which are to develop players,” he said.
Comparing the GDL to the GDPL, he said the GDL is a harsh environment characterised by intense competition among top coaches and players, which necessitates a high level of professionalism. The GDPL, he said, has played a vital role as a foundational step for the GDL, as it prepares individuals both physically and mentally, given that all teams are vying for promotion, which adds to the competitive nature of the league.
Participating in a league like the GDL, where development is a significant focus for clubs and academies in the long run, can lead to an overwhelming emphasis on accumulating points, Dlamini warned. However, he contends that genuine development should involve utilising competition as a means to an end, rather than treating it as the primary goal.
“Winning is absolutely part of the curriculum,” he admitted. “It teaches young athletes how to manage pressure. It rewards their execution and builds confidence. We cannot run away from it.
“However, a ‘win-at-all-costs’ mentality often sacrifices long-term technical growth for short-term physical dominance. The primary objective must always be creating an environment where players are brave enough to make mistakes while trying to play the right way,” he explained.
A lost game in which a team effectively attempts to build from the back and follow their tactical directives holds far greater importance for a player’s future than a disorganised, haphazard victory, Dlamini stated.
For Rockefvs, it is crucial to prioritise development and compete at a high level, thus ensuring the production of players who will not only benefit Rockefvs but also South African football in the long term.
Dlamini said that to remain competitive at higher levels, his club has much to learn. He identified several key areas in which he wishes to see Rockefvs improve, and that includes the support of families, particularly in terms of nutrition, which he emphasised was a vital foundational element of a footballer’s performance, recovery, and overall longevity.
Progress in that area has been limited, Dlamini reckoned, aside from encouraging the players to maintain a healthy diet and take care of their bodies.
As the 2026 season progresses, Rockefvs’ primary goal is to solidify their club-wide playing identity, thus ensuring that the developmental gap between the younger divisions and the u19 team continues to narrow. The ultimate objective is for the club’s teams in all divisions to secure a top-eight finish by the end of the season.
That’s a lofty goal given how new Rockefvs is to the top flight, but the club has made significant strides since earning promotion in November 2024. It has demonstrated the structural integrity necessary to belong in the GDL, showing that their transition from the GDPL to the GDL was not a fortunate coincidence, but rather the outcome of a collective effort.
The club’s aspirations of top-eight finishes for all its teams are being led by their u19 side, which provides the younger age-group teams with relatable motivation.
Dlamini expressed his gratitude to the families, parents, guardians, and supporters of Rockefvs for their unwavering support. The players are aware of and grateful for the backing, he said, which actively influences and motivates them to strive for a brighter and more prosperous future for the club.
“To the Rockefvs family, your patience, continuous support and encouragement are the centre of this project. Embrace the journey of these young athletes. Celebrate their technical growth, their discipline, and their understanding of the game just as loudly as you celebrate a victory,” he concluded.
FIXTURES
Saturday, 9 May
15:00
Future of Africa vs Pnaorama
Prestige vs Mamelodi Sundowns
Randburg vs Kathorus
Rockefvs vs Jomo Cosmos
Africa School of Excellence vs Joburg City
Seven’s Academy vs Highlands Park
Siwelele vs PMYF
Tuks vs Wits Junior
Sunday, 10 May
15:00
RESA vs Kaizer Chiefs
