LIMPOPO – Venda Football Club (VFC) unveiled 12 new players and released 14 during a media conference at Clouds End Hotel outside Louis Trichardt last Wednesday.

New signings

The new players are:

• Bongani Mphandle (Upington FC)
• Pfunzo Ramunasi, Donald Makgetlwa, Cameron Carnell and Goodman Chirwa (Black Leopards)
• Shaun Morgan (Marumo Gallants)
• Choan Josh Daniels (Young Bafana)
• Bonginkosi Makume (Baroka)
• Steven Goovadia (Polokwane City)
• Mashiku Muyeka (Namibia)
• Tumi Tshabalala (Dinoko FC)
• Douglas Mapfumo (Zimbabwe)

Team coach Clinton Larsen said VFC wants to build a formidable team for the coming season and that supporters can expect a completely new-look squad.

“The coach met with board members to discuss plans for the new season. He is focusing on bringing in new players,” he said.

Larsen said the club decided to release all 14 players as part of its plans to rebuild the team.

‘A radical decision’

Speaking about the team’s plans for the new season, Larsen said it was not easy to let highly experienced players go, but the club had to comply with the rules.

“We could not keep players that we knew we were not going to utilise, hence the radical decision to let them go,” he said.

Players released

The players who were released are:

• Gregory Damons
• Sibongiseni Ngcobo
• Adepoju Babatunde
• Rotshidzwa Muleka
• Thato Ligwati
• Unraine Kudzingana
• Rotondwa Mutsivhuli
• Jourdain Mbaynanaissem
• Sibusiso Sibeko
• Caren Ashy
• Tavenda Tavenga
• Leon Sithole
• Neo Ntombela
• Angelo Kazeem

CEO calls for supporter backing

The club’s CEO, Dr Rendani Mulaudzi, said they want to build a strong team. According to Mulaudzi, the club’s preparations for the new season went well. He called on supporters to come out in large numbers to support the team at Malamulele Stadium.

Season opener

VFC opened its campaign last Friday with a 1-1 draw against Lerumo Lions. The team was scheduled to face Gomora United at Malamulele Stadium on August 29.