WeeklySA_AdminSTANDINGS: The two Motsepe Championship sides billed for bottom-of-the-league survival fixture…
By Masoja Cele
Venda Football Academy will aim to stretch their impressive record when they host bottom-of-the-log Midlands Wanderers in the Motsepe Foundation Championship at Thohoyandou Stadium, Venda, on Sunday.
Venda FC approach the match as favourites, given their current form and home advantage. With the arrival of the well-travelled mentor Clinton Larsen in June, “Maunavhathu” fortunes have improved immensely.
Before Larsen’s arrival, the Venda club had been struggling to snatch points. At some point, they were languishing at the bottom of the table.
Since then, the Limpopo outfit has lost twice, won two and drew three. They are lying ninth on the log standings, with nine points.
To bolster the team, they made some quality signings in the off-season – former Maritzburg United (now Durban City) and ex-Magesi attacking midfielder Deolin Mekoa, ex-Jomo Cosmos central defender Thato Lingwati, defensive midfielder Gregory Damons from Pretoria Callies, Lesotho international striker Motebang Sera and goalkeeper Malcom Jacob, both from the now defunct Royal AM. They join the ranks of former Kaizer Chiefs midfielder Chris Matombo and speedy right winger Tshepo Mofokeng to outstretch the KZN side.
Midlands Wanderers face a tough assignment on Sunday. They were promoted to the second tier in the 2024/25 season. They are rooted at the foot of the table with four points. Their only victory thus far came against Hungry Lions in their opening fixture in August. The other point came from a draw with fellow newbies Gomora United.
“Abafana Bebatha’s” technical team is led by coach Vincent Myeni, whose hope is that twin strikers Phakamani Mngadi and Samkelo Mlaba hit the right notes to dismantle the hard-to-crack Venda defence. In the engine room, Myeni will parade the skills of Sanele Gaxa and Mhlengi Cele.
