School of Excellence lives up to its name
The School of Excellence, one of the Gauteng Development League‘s (GDL) and South Africa’s most renowned football academies, recorded two victories while scoring 10 goals without conceding any in two outings on the weekend.
It has been an unexpectedly difficult season for the School of Excellence, but they turned on the style on Saturday to deliver a captivating performance against Elspark United at Elandsfontein Park
Elspark had few answers as the home side netted seven times while remaining rock-solid on defence.
On Sunday, the School of Excellence returned to the same venue to take on the East Rand Athletic Club. The home ground advantage once against worked for the hosts, who rolled to a 3-0 victory.
In Vereeniging, Remember Elite Sport Academy (RESA) hosted the recent bronze medal winners of the Engen Champ of Champs, Panorama, at President Park.
Despite their medal-winning efforts in the Champ of Champs, Panorama carried mixed form into the clash. Ever since they won the Engen Knockout Challenge Gauteng in July, where they defeated Kaizer Chiefs in the final, it has been a roller-coaster ride for the Roodepoort club, and on Saturday another dip awaited Panorama.
RESA prevailed 4-0 to keep their grip on third place in the standings, while also keeping them within reach of possibly finishing as high as second by the season’s end.
It took 34 minutes for the home side to open the scoring, with Bandile Radebe netting after an assist from Samukelo Mthombeni.
Seven minutes into the second half, Mthombeni netted a goal of his own, with Onthathile Lemao setting him up.
Their third came only five minutes later, courtesy of an own goal, and Radebe slotted his second with nine minutes remaining, again thanks to Mthombeni’s assistance, to complete the scoring.
Mamelodi Sundowns, in second place and chasing Highlands Park for the title, was forced to abandon their match on Sunday because of adverse weather, but so, too, was Highlands Park forced to abandon theirs.
Sundowns, though, closed the gap because they won on Saturday, outplaying Seven’s Academy 6-1 at Clapham High.
Much like the School of Excellence, Kaizer Chiefs has typically been one of the title contenders, but this season has been more challenging than usual. although Chiefs lie sixth on the table, while the School of Excellence is in 14th place following their two big wins.
After a narrow 3-2 victory over Jomo Cosmos last weekend at the Kaizer Chiefs Village, the Phefeni Glamour Boys took on the 13th-placed Rockefvs at the ACCP Grounds, and it was the home team who came away with the points, downing Chiefs 2-1.
A number of matches resulted in the sides sharing the spoils, with Jomo Cosmos and Wits Junior playing to a goalless draw. There was a similar result in the game between Kathorus Hyper Academy and East Rand Athletic on Saturday at Tsakane Stadium.
Joburg City and SuperSport United drew 1-1.
RESULTS
Saturday, 18 October
Jomo Cosmos 0-0 Wits Junior
Kathorus 0-0 East Rand Athletic
Joburg City 1-1 SuperSport United
RESA 4-0 Panorama
Mamelodi Sundowns 6-1 Seven’s Academy
School of Excellence 7-0 Elspark United
Randburg 1-1 TS Galaxy
Rockefvs 2-1 Kaizer Chiefs
Sunday, 19 October
School of Excellence 3-0 East Rand Athletic
Games abandoned due to bad weather:
Mamelodi Sundowns vs Panorama
Highlands Park vs Tuks
