Malamulele Stadium will be the best place to be on Sunday afternoon when the much-awaited Limpopo derby between Venda Football Club (VFC) and Baroka FC will take place.
VFC and Baroka have one thing in common. Both started the new season on a disappointing note. VFC have managed to win only one of their first five matches, while Baroka are yet to register a victory. (The results of their midweek matches are not included).
Realising that the team was struggling to collect the much-needed points, Baroka parted ways with the team's head coach, Mr Stan Nkoane, after their 1-1 draw with Casric Stars at the Solomon Mahlangu Stadium in Siyabuswa last Saturday. The former Chippa United mentor, Mr Daniel Malesela, took over as the head coach of the team on Monday.
Should they fail to collect the full points at stake against Baroka on Sunday, winning the league championship at the end of the season will be a distant dream for the Thohoyandou side. VFC's right-back, Zebulon Mtshweni, is expected to be in the team's starting 11, following his superb performance last Friday in the match against NB La Masia at the Thohoyandou Stadium.
The other weekend fixtures include the match between Black Leopards and the University of Pretoria, which will be played at the Absa Tuks Stadium in Pretoria. Black Leopards will be without their second-choice goalkeeper, Ayanda Mtshali, who was given a red card for using vulgar language towards the match officials in their game against Upington City at the Thohoyandou Stadium last Saturday.
Magesi FC will take on JDR Stars at the Old Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane. Magesi are currently leading the pack, following their impressive performance in the first five matches. The other fixtures are NB La Masia vs. Hungry Lions, Orbit College vs. Marumo Gallants, Casric Stars vs. Milford FC, Platinum City Rovers vs. Maritzburg United, and Upington City vs. Pretoria Callies.