While most of the clubs campaigning under the banner of the Motsepe Foundation Championship League gave their players some days to rest after their last weekend's games because of the FIFA break, the situation is quite different at Venda Football Club (VFC). VFC's players were given only one day to rest after their match last Sunday against the University of Pretoria FC, which ended in a 1-1 draw.
In an interview with the team's head coach, Mr Vladislav Heric, shortly after the game, he indicated that the honeymoon period was over. He added that there was no point in giving the players a break while the future of the team as an affiliate of the Motsepe Foundation Championship League was hanging by a thread.
The 58-year-old mentor stated that he wanted to use the FIFA break to tighten up the team's loose ends. He revealed that the team would play a number of practice matches against teams competing in the Betway Premiership and ABC Motsepe Leagues during the break to maintain the players' match fitness.
Heric expressed concern over the team's failure to convert scoring chances. He added that VFC's position on the log standings did not accurately reflect the team's performance. According to him, his team enjoyed ball possession in most games but failed to convert the obvious scoring opportunities they created.
Heric appealed to the team's passionate supporters not to give up hope. He reiterated that the team's fortunes would soon change. The Thohoyandou side are currently at the bottom of the log with eight points from 10 matches. VFC's next fixture will be against JDR Stars at the Soshanguve Giant Stadium next Saturday, 23 November.