VFC and Magesi clash in make-or-break Limpopo derby

The Malamulele Stadium will be the place to be on Saturday afternoon. The highly anticipated Motsepe Foundation Championship League match between Venda Football Club (VFC) and Magesi FC is scheduled to take place there.

The match is expected to draw a substantial number of spectators for several reasons. VFC must secure a victory at all costs to reignite their hopes of promotion. The Thohoyandou side was positioned 14^th on the league standings with eight points before their midweek match against Hungry Lions, which was played at the Thohoyandou Stadium (the result of which was unavailable at the time of our going to press).

VFC notched up their first win under the guidance of Mr Johnny Ferreira, narrowly defeating Orbit College FC 1-0 at the Soshanguve Giant Stadium outside Pretoria last Saturday. During an interview with Mr Ferreira after the game, he noted that the players were adapting to his coaching philosophy. When asked about the team's chances of promotion at the end of the current soccer season, the former Black Leopards mentor mentioned that anything was still possible.

On the other hand, Magesi will spare no effort in the game, as losing would be detrimental to their prospects. Magesi is one of the leading contenders for the league title, holding the fifth position on the standings with 15 points, trailing the pace-setters, Orbit College, by four points before their midweek match against Marumo Gallants at the Old Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane.

Magesi have struggled on the road this season. They suffered a 0-2 defeat at the hands of Upington City at the Windhoek Draught Stadium in Kimberley last Saturday.

The combination of Nhanhla Makhubele, Isaac Masia, and Zebulon Mtshweni is expected to safeguard VFC's goal area from start to finish, while Rudzani "Zoba" Thobo, Matimu Tshabalala, and Kgothatso Mariba are poised to create problems for Magesi in their own territory.

Date:03 November 2023

By: Frank Mavhungu

Frank is a Human Resources Manager at the Department of Public Works in Limpopo. He is the longest serving correspondent of the Mirror, having joined us at the end of 1990.  He mainly writes sports reports and resides at Tsianda Village. In 2004, Frank won the National Castle League Award, an award for the best reporter in the SAB league in South Africa.

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