With most teams affiliated with the Motsepe Foundation Championship League left with only nine matches before the end of the season, the struggle for promotion and to escape relegation will continue this weekend.
After dropping vital points to University of Pretoria FC, to whom they lost 1-0 at the Absa Tuks Stadium in Pretoria last Sunday, it remains to be seen whether Venda Football Club (VFC) will rise to the occasion and beat Cape Town City when they meet at Thohoyandou Stadium on Saturday.
Like VFC, Cape Town City are also trying to recover from the 3-1 defeat they suffered at the hands of Highbury FC last Friday.
Should they fail to collect maximum points on Saturday, VFC must forget about gaining outright promotion to the Betway Premiership League at the end of the season. The team is in 10th position with 26 points, 14 behind the leaders, Kruger United.
VFC (Maunavhathu) and Cape Town City played to a goalless draw in their first-round league match at Athlone Stadium in Cape Town on Saturday, 23 August, last year. VFC’s performance has been deteriorating over time. Maunavhathu’s last win was against Upington City at Thohoyandou Stadium on Saturday, 24 January.
Cape Town City are currently in third place, only four points behind Kruger United.
After saving several certain goals in their game against University of Pretoria FC last Sunday, VFC’s first-choice goalkeeper, Rotshidzwa Muleka, is likely to be in the starting XI on Saturday.
Black Leopards will be away to Highbury FC at Gelvandale Stadium in the only match scheduled for Friday afternoon. The other weekend fixtures are Lerumo Lions vs Upington City, Casric Stars vs Kruger United, Leicesterford City vs Gomora United, Hungry Lions vs Midlands Wanderers, and The Bees vs University of Pretoria FC.