Venda Football Club (VFC) are leaving no stone unturned in their preparations for their Motsepe Foundation Championship League clash against Highbury FC at the Gelvandale Stadium in Gqeberha on Friday afternoon.
While Highbury have little at stake, the match is a do-or-die encounter for the Thohoyandou side. Highbury are safe from relegation, despite losing their past two matches — a 2-1 defeat by Black Leopards at the Thohoyandou Stadium on Wednesday 23 April, followed by a 3-1 loss to Baroka FC at the Global Stadium in Lebowakgomo last Saturday. They are currently 10th on the log with 34 points.
VFC, or Maunavhathu as they are affectionately known, must return home with all three points or risk relegation from the Motsepe Foundation Championship. The team are among the bottom three on the log with 28 points, three more than last-placed Leruma United.
VFC head coach Stanford Nkoane said they were travelling to Gqeberha with one objective: to win. "We are going to Gqeberha with one thing in mind — to win the match and enhance our chances of escaping the relegation axe," he said.
It was not yet clear at the time of our going to press whether VFC's right back, Bongolwethu Siyasi, would pass a late fitness test. Siyasi missed the team's last game against Upington City due to injury and watched from the stands.
If Siyasi is not available, Nhlanhla Makhubele, Tshovelo Mathebula and Thapelo Sekgobela will be expected to hold the defensive line.
The other weekend fixtures are: Casric Stars vs Black Leopards; Orbit College vs Baroka FC; Upington City vs Milford FC; Pretoria Callies vs Hungry Lions; JDR Stars vs Durban City.