Wits sink, Highlands Park into Gauteng Development League’s top three
Over the years, the Gauteng Development League (GDL) has proven itself to be an adapt, or get left behind, type of league, with teams and players growing and improving at an exponential rate.
The intensity of league fixtures is at an all-time high as fast-paced football continues to thrive in the league, just as it does in Europe and the world at large.
With this in mind, Wits Junior Football Club is behind the eight-ball, and they’ve been finding it hard to keep up with their opposition for a number of years.
Right at the start of the new season, Wits Junior did not look the part as they were handed a 0-1 loss by league newbies East Rand Athletic Club, in a fixture that they were supposed to win.
They finished bottom of the standings last season, with only six victories in 34 league fixtures, but a better start was expected against newly promoted opponents.
However, the Randburg-based team has not displayed improvement, and, after 15 matches, they have only once won.
On Saturday, Wits put up a decent fight, but they were again on the wrong end of the result, going 0-1 down against the log leaders, Mamelodi Sundowns, at Clapham High School.
A second-half goal by Bennet Mokoena, courtesy of a neat assist from Thato Sibiya, saw ‘Downs record a 14th league victory while handing Wits their 10th loss of the season.
Contrary to the state of proceedings at Wits Junior, Highlands Park has turned things around remarkably at Balfour Park after a slow start to their season.
“The Lions of the North” began their campaign seemingly burdened with the tag of “defending champions” after they set an extremely high bar in 2023.
They started the season with a 0-0 draw against Tuks, had a match stopped by lightning, when they trailed SuperSport United 0-3, and then had a fixture against Remember Elite Sports Academy (RESA) abandoned due to a waterlogged field.
That stuttering start, which left them short of game time and momentum, had Highlands Park on the back foot as the other top teams racked up points. Some thought the defending champions might have thrown in the towel despite it being early in the season.
Three months later, Highlands Park is flying high, in third place on the log, having recorded 10 victories in 14 matches to propel themselves into the top three, level on points with second-placed Kaizer Chiefs, with 33 to their credit. On Saturday, they claimed a 1-0 win over Khathorus Hyper Academy.
East Rand Athletic Club drew 0-0 against Jomo Cosmos, while Rosina Sedibane Modiba Sports School lost 0-2 to School of Excellence.
SuperSport United, RESA and TS Galaxy won 2-0 against Randburg AFC, Sevens Academy and Panorama FC respectively.
Tuks beat league newcomers NWU Vaal Academy 2-1, while Chiefs recorded a mammoth 9-0 victory at home against Joburg City.
