Venda Football Club (VFC) are gearing up for a tough match against Baroka FC in their Motsepe Foundation Championship League clash at the Thohoyandou Stadium on Saturday afternoon. While Baroka will be fighting to enhance their promotional chances, VFC must win to move out of the relegation zone.
Baroka, one of the top five teams in the league standings, are yet to lose a match under the guidance of coach Joel Masutha. Known as Bakgakga, their most recent result was a 1-1 draw against Hungry Lions at the Global Stadium in Lebowakgomo two weeks ago.
VFC, on the other hand, are still recovering from a 1-3 defeat to Cape Town Spurs in their Nedbank Cup match at the Thohoyandou Stadium last Saturday.
The head coach of VFC, Stanford Nkoane, said that exiting the Nedbank Cup would allow him to focus on his primary mandate: saving the team from relegation.
Maunavhathu's Zimbabwean utility player, Tatenda Tavengwa, will miss the game after receiving a red card in their league match against Milford FC at the Princess Magogo Stadium in Durban two weeks ago. Tshepo Mofokeng, Bongolwethu Siyasi, and Kgothatso Mariba will be expected to stabilize the team's midfield.
In their first-round league match on 7 December, VFC lost 2-4 to Baroka at the Global Stadium in Lebowakgomo.
In other fixtures, Black Leopards will travel to Pretoria to face Leruma United at the TUT Stadium. Other matches include Cape Town Spurs vs Milford FC, Casric Stars vs JDR Stars, Orbit College vs Upington City, Durban City vs Kruger United, Hungry Lions vs Highbury, and University of Pretoria vs Pretoria Callies.