Panorama FC ladies kick off the GWDL season on high pace

Panorama FC hosted JVW FC in a series of matches across the U13, U15 and U17 divisions as the 2026 season of the Gauteng Women’s Development League (GWDL) officially kicked off on March 8.

According to Panorama FC technical coach Greg Green, this encounter was an exciting opening day of football, with Panorama showing determination, development and strong team performances across the three fixtures.

The encounter began with the U13 development squad taking to the field. The team, made up of players ranging from U10 to U13, displayed noticeable improvement since their previous outing three weeks ago. The work done on the training ground to refine the basics was evident in their play, as the girls showed better structure and confidence with the ball.

“Despite their effort and determination, they faced a well-organised JVW side and eventually went down 3–0. The match nevertheless provided valuable lessons for both the players and coaching staff, who identified key areas to focus on in upcoming training sessions,” said Green.

The U15 encounter reignited a growing rivalry between the two sides, who had met just two weeks earlier in the semi-final of the GWDL tournament. The first half proved to be a tightly contested battle, with both teams competing fiercely across the pitch and neither able to find the breakthrough. Panorama, however, took control in the second half with an impressive attacking display. Buhle Potgieter scored twice to put her side firmly in command, while Pholoso Thetswe sealed the victory with a superb lob over the goalkeeper. The three unanswered goals secured a convincing 3–0 win for Panorama.

The U17 team faced a challenging situation heading into their match, with only 11 players available due to injuries and prior commitments. Despite having no substitutes, the Panorama players showed remarkable determination and took the game to JVW from the outset. Their strong teamwork and attacking intent paid off as they took a 2–0 lead into halftime, with goals from Valerie Chigogo and captain Nia Arendse.

As the second half progressed, fatigue began to take its toll on the Panorama players. The team made several tactical adjustments and positional changes to manage the tired legs in her squad. JVW managed to pull a goal back with around 15 minutes remaining, setting up a tense finish. However, the Panorama girls responded with renewed determination and held their shape to see out the match and secure a 2–1 victory.

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Panorama FC Ladies made a strong start to their campaign with two wins from three matches on the opening day of the GWDL season, showing encouraging signs of development and resilience for the season ahead.