Two tricky hurdles await struggling VFC

Venda Football Club (VFC) must collect at least four points in their two upcoming Motsepe Foundation Championship League matches to revive their hopes for promotion. VFC will host Upington City at the Malamulele Stadium on Saturday afternoon, followed by a trip to Johannesburg to play against NB La Masia at the Bidvest Stadium on Tuesday next week, 19 December.

VFC faced setbacks in their last two matches, losing 11-10 to University of Pretoria FC in their Nedbank Cup preliminary-round match at the Thohoyandou Stadium last Wednesday. They suffered another defeat, a 1-3 loss to Casric Stars, in their league match at the Solomon Mahlangu Stadium in Siyabuswa, Mpumalanga, last Sunday.

Currently in the 13^th position on the log standings with 15 points, VFC is fighting for survival, holding a two-point advantage over the tail-enders, Milford FC. Collecting maximum points will be a challenging task for VFC, considering Upington City's strong position in third place with 24 points, trailing behind the pace setters, Orbit College FC.

The newly appointed head coach of VFC, Mr Duncan Lechesa, is grappling to find a winning combination since joining the club early last month. The effectiveness of the team’s strikers, Matimu Tshabalala, Moeketsi Sekola, and Wanga Khorommbi, in breaking through Upington City's defence remains to be seen.

Black Leopards will travel to Pietermaritzburg on Friday afternoon to play against Maritzburg City at the Harry Gwala Stadium. Other weekend fixtures include University of Pretoria vs Marumo Gallants, JDR Stars vs Pretoria Callies, Magesi FC vs NB La Masia, Milford FC vs Baroka FC, and Platinum City Rovers vs Orbit College.

Next Tuesday’s fixtures are Magesi FC vs Upington City, Milford FC vs Black Leopards, University of Pretoria vs Orbit College, Maritzburg United vs Baroka FC, Hungry Lions vs Marumo Gallants, Platinum City Rovers vs JDR Stars, and Pretoria Callies vs Casric Stars.

Date:15 December 2023

By: Frank Mavhungu

Frank is a Human Resources Manager at the Department of Public Works in Limpopo. He is the longest serving correspondent of the Mirror, having joined us at the end of 1990.  He mainly writes sports reports and resides at Tsianda Village. In 2004, Frank won the National Castle League Award, an award for the best reporter in the SAB league in South Africa.

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