After giving away significant league points to Magesi FC, to whom they lost 0-1 in the Motsepe Foundation Championship League match that was played at the Old Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane last Saturday, Venda Football Academy (VFA) have another mountain to climb. They will play two tough matches within the space of four days.
VFA will entertain Platinum City Rovers at the Thohoyandou Stadium on Saturday. Apart from the fact that beating City Rovers on Saturday will restore the team's pride, VFA must win the match to keep their title hopes alive. According to the chairman of VFA, Mr Itani Munzhelele, their aim is to gain automatic promotion to the DStv Premiership Division at the end of the current season.
Munzhelele said earlier this week that their set target was achievable when taking into account the squad they had assembled so far. Some of the experienced players whom VFA had signed this season include the former TS Sporting and Black Leopards' centre back, Mxolisi Khosa, the former Tshakhuma Tsha Madzivhandila sharpshooter, Rhulani Manzini, and two Zimbabwean nationals, Edmore Chirambadara and Tatenda Tavengwa. A combination of Rhulani Manzini, Tau Rankoko and Rotodzwa Mutsivhuli in the VFA striking force is likely to give the Rovers' defence a headache.
VFA will not have much time to prepare for their next fixture after Saturday's game. They will travel to Polokwane next Tuesday, 13 September, where they will play against Polokwane City at the Old Peter Mokaba Stadium.
Unlike VFA, who had lost their opening league match, Polokwane City managed to collect one point in their opening match. They played to a goalless draw with the University of Pretoria FC at the Absa Tuks Stadium in Pretoria last Sunday.