VANDERBIJLPARK.-  NWU Vaal FC will be campaigning in the Gauteng Development League (DGL) Stream B in the new season.

This is after the team was relegated from Stream A at the end of the 2023/24 season.

This is sad for the development of football.  This project is one of the best, giving local talent a platform to compete against the best in Gauteng. The NWU Vaal FC head of development, Tebello Kheswa, confirmed to Sedibeng Ster Sport that the team will play in the lower league next season.

Kheswa said they have done what they could to avoid relegation but it was not easy. He attributed this to the lack of resources especially competing against well-resourced teams like Kaizer Chiefs, Mamelodi Sundowns, and SuperSport United to mention but a few teams.

Kheswa said the stage was also too big for the youngsters to compete against these teams every weekend. NWU Vaal FC suffered a heavy defeat against them. Kheswa is optimistic that they will bounce back to Stream A in the new season like they did when they were promoted from Stream B in their first season in the GDL.

“I must say, it was a very difficult season for us because we were competing against well-resourced teams. We had to wake up at 3:00 in the morning when we played away games, especially in Pretoria. But when those teams play against us here in the Vaal, they would come a day earlier to avoid long hours of traveling. These are some contributing factors to why we were relegated at the end of the season. This league is demanding, especially for teams with fewer resources like us. But I’m happy with the experience we gained,” he said.

The Rosina Sedibane School Sports will join NWU Vaal FC in the lower league after being relegated.