Gauteng Development League

Gauteng Development League
Organising bodySAFA Gauteng
Founded2011 (2011)
CountrySouth Africa
ProvinceGauteng
Number of clubs80
Level on pyramid3
Relegation toGauteng Development Promotional League
Domestic cupGauteng Development League Top 8
Current championsUnder 13: Mamelodi Sundowns (1st title)

Under 14: Kaizer Chiefs (1st title)
Under 15: Mamelodi Sundowns (3rd title)
Under 17: Mamelodi Sundowns (2nd title)

Under 19: Mamelodi Sundowns (2nd title)
(2025)
Broadcaster(s)Supersport Schools
Websitesafagauteng.org.za

The Gauteng Development League is a youth association football development league launched in 2011 by SAFA Gauteng. The league is for youth development for boys in different age groups. It features clubs from all over the province of Gauteng.[1]

History

When Gauteng Development League was launched in 2017, there were just nine teams. It has grown to have 80 teams, with 20 teams in each division: U13, U15, U17 and U19.[2]

In 2020 the league was interrupted by COVID-19.

In 2025 Siwelele bought the Premiership status of SuperSport United and took over the academy in the GDL.[3]

Champions

U/13 Division

Year Champion Runners-up
2020 Orlando Pirates School of Excellence
2021 Kaizer Chiefs Supersport United
2022 Kaizer Chiefs Supersport United
2023 Kaizer Chiefs Mamelodi Sundowns
2024 Kaizer Chiefs[4] Mamelodi Sundowns
2025 Mamelodi Sundowns Supersport United[5]

Source:[6]

U/14 Division

Year Champion Runners-up
2024 Tuks High School Kathorus Hyper Academy
2025 Kaizer Chiefs Mamelodi Sundowns

U/15 Division

Year Champion Runners-up
2020 Mamelodi Sundowns Supersport United
2021 Kathorus Hyper Academy Mamelodi Sundowns
2022 School of Excellence Mamelodi Sundowns
2023 Kaizer Chiefs Mamelodi Sundowns
2024 Mamelodi Sundowns[4] Kaizer Chiefs
2025 Mamelodi Sundowns Kaizer Chiefs

Source:[7]

The league was cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic. There was no winner, but Mamelodi Sundowns were on top of the table at the cancellation of the league.

U/17 Division

Year Champion Runners-up
2020 Bidvest Wits Kaizer Chiefs
2021 Supersport United Mamelodi Sundowns
2022 Highlands Park Kaizer Chiefs
2023 Supersport United Kaizer Chiefs
2024 Mamelodi Sundowns Remember Elite Sports Academy
2025 Mamelodi Sundowns Kaizer Chiefs

Source:[8]

U/19 Division

Year Champion Runners-up
2021 Kaizer Chiefs Jomo Cosmos
2022 Mamelodi Sundowns Highlands Park
2023 Highlands Park Mamelodi Sundowns
2024[9] Highlands Parks Mamelodi Sundowns
2025[10] Mamelodi Sundowns Highlands Park

Source:[11]

GDL Top 8 winners

U/13

Under 13 Top 8 winners
Year Champion Runners-up Ref
2024 Kaizer Chiefs Mamelodi Sundowns
2025 Kaizer Chiefs SuperSport United
2026 Mamelodi Sundowns Siwelele [12]

U/14

Under 14 Top 8 winners
Year Champion Runners-up Ref
2026 Kaizer Chiefs Highlands Park [12]

U/15

Under 15 Top 8 winners
Year Champion Runners-up Ref
2024 Mamelodi Sundowns Tuks High School
2025 Mamelodi Sundowns Kaizer Chiefs
2026 Mamelodi Sundowns Siwelele [12]

U/17

Under 17 Top 8 winners
Year Champion Runners-up Ref
2024 Kaizer Chiefs Highlands Park
2025 SuperSport United Remember Elite Sports Academy
2026 Siwelele Kaizer Chiefs [12]

U/19

Under 19 Top 8 winners
Year Champion Runners-up Ref
2024 SuperSport United Mamelodi Sundowns
2025 SuperSport United SAFA Transnet School of Excellence [13]
2026 Kaizer Chiefs Remember Elite Sports Academy [12]

Gauteng Women's Development League

Gauteng Women's Development League
Organising bodySAFA Gauteng
Founded2023 (2023)
CountrySouth Africa
ProvinceGauteng
Domestic cupGWDL Top 8 Championship
Current championsUnder 13: JWV (1st title)

Under 15: SAFA Academy (1st title)

Under 17: Mamelodi Sundowns (3rd title)
(2025)
Broadcaster(s)SuperSport Schools
Websitesafagauteng.org.za

The Gauteng Women's Development League is a provincial girls soccer league in Gauteng. The league is run by SAFA Gauteng, and features teams from the Local Football Associations (LFAs) that are under SAFA Gauteng.

History

The initial season featured 10 teams and was launched on 16 April 2023 with only the under-15 age group available.[14][15] In 2024, the league added the under-14 league and switch the under-15 age group to under-16.[16][17]

In the 2024 season opener for the under-16 division, Mamelodi Sundowns scored a record 14 goals in a 14-1 in over West Youth Academy.[18][19] In the under-14 division, the first matches were played on 24 March 2024 which saw 30 goals being scored in the season opener.[20]

Mamelodi Sundowns won both leagues undefeated in 2024.[21]

In 2025 the under-13 age group was added and the inaugural winners were JVW.[22][23] The winners and runners-ups of the under-17 league in 2025 qualified for the CAF U-17 Girls Integrated Football Tournament-COSAFA region.[24] Refilwe were chosen to partake in the tournament as they finished third behind SAFA Academy.[25]

Champions

The list of champions and runners-up:

U/13 division

Year Champions Runners-up
2025 JVW Refilwe

U/15 division

Year Champions Runners-up
2024[21] Mamelodi Sundowns Tuks High School
2025 SAFA Academy Panorama F.C.

U/17 division

Year Champions Runners-up
2023 Mamelodi Sundowns JVW
2024[21] Mamelodi Sundowns JVW
2025 Mamelodi Sundowns SAFA Academy

GWDL Top 8 winners

U/13

Under-13 Top 8 winners
Year Champion Runners-up Ref
2026 Mamelodi Sundowns Refilwe [12]

U/15

Under-15 Top 8 winners
Year Champion Runners-up Ref
2026 Panorama Tuks High School [12]

U/17

The winners U/17 Top 8 cup
Year Champions Runners-up Ref
2024 Mamelodi Sundowns JVW [26]
2026 Mamelodi Sundowns Refilwe [12]

Broadcasting

The GDL and GDWL games are broadcast on the SuperSport Schools channel.[27][28]

References

  1. ^ "SAFA Gauteng launches Gauteng development league - SAFA.net". 2017-04-25. Retrieved 2024-06-07.
  2. ^ Import, Pongrass (2019-04-11). "Local teams to participate in Gauteng Development League". African Reporter. Retrieved 2024-07-15.
  3. ^ Mokoena, Kgomotso (2025-07-08). "Gauteng Development League laments the demise of SuperSport United". Sunday World. Retrieved 2026-03-08.
  4. ^ a b Gcwabe, Ongama (2024-11-13). "SuperSport Schools Plus | Chiefs back-to-back GDL u13 champs, Sundowns take u15 title". SuperSport Schools Plus. Retrieved 2025-03-21.
  5. ^ Mokoena, Kgomotso (2025-07-08). "Gauteng Development League laments the demise of SuperSport United". Sunday World. Retrieved 2025-11-09.
  6. ^ Inqaku. "League - GDL U13 Group 1A | Inqaku". inqaku.com. Retrieved 2024-06-08.
  7. ^ Inqaku. "League - Under 15 - Gauteng Development League - GP Stream A | Inqaku". inqaku.com. Retrieved 2024-06-08.
  8. ^ Inqaku. "League - Under 17 - Gauteng Development League - GP A | Inqaku". inqaku.com. Retrieved 2024-06-08.
  9. ^ Gcwabe, Ongama (2024-09-04). "SuperSport Schools Plus | Highlands Park go top, Chiefs slip in the Gauteng Development League". SuperSport Schools Plus. Retrieved 2025-03-21.
  10. ^ Pongco, Siya (2025-11-10). "SuperSport Schools Plus | Mamelodi Sundowns unseats Highlands Park as GDL champ". SuperSport Schools Plus. Retrieved 2026-03-08.
  11. ^ Inqaku. "League - U19 GDL - Gauteng Development League Stream A | Inqaku". inqaku.com. Retrieved 2024-06-08.
  12. ^ a b c d e f g h Pongco, Siya (2026-03-04). "SuperSport Schools Plus | Chiefs and Sundowns win big in Top 8 finals". SuperSport Schools Plus. Retrieved 2026-03-08.
  13. ^ Gcwabe, Ongama (2025-03-17). "SuperSport Schools Plus | Tumelo Ndaba's Supersport United retains GDL Top Eight title". SuperSport Schools Plus. Retrieved 2025-03-21.
  14. ^ Pongco, Siya (2024-02-13). "SuperSport Schools Plus | Gauteng Women's football entering a new phase of success". SuperSport Schools Plus. Retrieved 2024-04-03.
  15. ^ ""Gauteng Development League for Girls Launches - Revolutionizing Women's Football in South Africa"". Urban Street Culture. 2023-04-19. Retrieved 2024-04-11.
  16. ^ Import, Pongrass (2024-01-25). "Football fanatics gear up for the new season". Roodepoort Record. Retrieved 2024-04-03.
  17. ^ Import, Pongrass (2024-03-16). "EFC's women's team prepare for league debut". Bedfordview Edenvale News. Retrieved 2024-04-03.
  18. ^ Pongco, Siya (2024-04-08). "SuperSport Schools Plus | Banyana Ba Style make a loud statement in their season opener". SuperSport Schools Plus. Retrieved 2024-04-10.
  19. ^ Pongco, Siya (2024-04-23). "SuperSport Schools Plus | JVW, Sundowns and RESA lead the title chase: u16 GWDL week 2". SuperSport Schools Plus. Retrieved 2024-04-28.
  20. ^ Pongco, Siya (2024-03-25). "SuperSport Schools Plus | Goals galore at exciting GWDL season opener". SuperSport Schools Plus. Retrieved 2024-04-10.
  21. ^ a b c Pongco, Siya (2024-10-16). "SuperSport Schools Plus | Mamelodi Sundowns: The Invincible GWDL Queens". SuperSport Schools Plus. Retrieved 2024-10-16.
  22. ^ Pongco, Siya (2025-08-27). "SuperSport Schools Plus | GWDL's Women's Month celebrations highlight the growth of the game". SuperSport Schools Plus. Retrieved 2025-11-09.
  23. ^ Pongco, Siya (2025-08-05). "SuperSport Schools Plus | SAFA Academy vs Sundowns to headline Women's Day GWDL Festival". SuperSport Schools Plus. Retrieved 2025-11-09.
  24. ^ "All you need to know about the CAF Under-17 Girls Integrated Football Tournament (GIFT) Zimbabwe 2025". All you need to know about the CAF Under-17 Girls Integrated Football Tournament (GIFT) Zimbabwe 2025. Retrieved 2026-03-08.
  25. ^ "CAF U17 GIFT Profiles: Mamelodi Sundowns and Refilwe FC". CAF U17 GIFT Profiles: Mamelodi Sundowns and Refilwe FC. Retrieved 2026-03-08.
  26. ^ Pongco, Siya (2024-03-13). "SuperSport Schools Plus | Tenacious Mamelodi Sundowns and JVW Ladies claim pre-season titles". SuperSport Schools Plus. Retrieved 2025-03-16.
  27. ^ Pongco, Siya (2024-02-13). "SuperSport Schools Plus | Gauteng Women's football entering a new phase of success". SuperSport Schools Plus. Retrieved 2024-04-04.
  28. ^ "FIFA praise fuels GDL's ambition to grow, commercialise, and support other provinces | soccer". SABC. 2026-03-06. Retrieved 2026-03-08.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is available under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 unless otherwise noted. Additional terms may apply for the media files.