The much-awaited Motsepe Foundation Championship League derby between Black Leopards and Venda Football Academy (VFA) will be played at the Thohoyandou Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
A quick glance at the showrooms of the two teams shows that sparks will fly from the first whistle to the end. VFA and Lidoda duvha had done their homework during the Fifa World Cup break.
Black Leopards beefed up their squad by acquiring the services of two vastly experienced players. They had strengthened their goalkeeping and striking departments by roping in Siphelele Ntshangase and Jackson Mabokwane (goalkeeper). Mabokwane is a former player for Baroka FC and Orlando Pirates, while Ntshangase is not a new name in the books of Black Leopards. He had played for the Thohoyandou side for five soccer seasons before leaving for Kaizer Chiefs.
Mabokwane was put to the test in their Nedbank Cup game against Polokwane City that was played at the same venue last Saturday. Leopards were beaten 0-1.
VFA had signed two players from the DStv Premiership Division side, Marumo Gallants. They managed to secure the signatures of Ndivhuwo "Segere" Ravhuhali and Maboke Matlakala. Matlakala is a striker, while Ravhuhali is a left back.
VFA are still celebrating their 6-5 victory over Hungry Lions in their Nedbank Cup match that was played at the Windhoek Draught Stadium in Kimberley last Saturday.
The combination of Leopards' strikers, Douglas Mapfumo and Matimu Tshabalala, is expected to keep the defenders of VFA running for cover throughout the game. VFA will be without their killer striker, Rotondwa "Neymar" Mutsivhuli, on Saturday. He is still serving suspension after seeing red in their league game against Cape Town All Stars that was played at the Danie Craven Stadium in Cape Town on Friday, 9 December.