Motsepe Foundation Championship | 17 October 2026
Venda had the lead and, for a spell, the upper hand in Saturday’s Limpopo derby, but a ruthless Magesi FC turned the contest on its head to win 3-1. Kaitano Tembo’s side struck first after the break, only for the hosts to respond with three unanswered goals that sent Magesi back to the top of the Motsepe Foundation Championship. It was a hard lesson for the Thohoyandou club, who will rue the manner in which an advantage slipped away. The derby had the intensity the occasion demanded, but it was the home side’s clinical finishing in the final quarter that proved decisive. Venda return home with nothing to show for a bright start.
A Lead That Did Not Last
The match sprang to life shortly after the interval when Thifhelimbilu Magalela put Venda in front, a goal that briefly threatened to upset the form book against the leaders. Holding that advantage against a side of Magesi’s quality was always going to demand discipline and a slice of luck, and Venda found neither. As the game wore on, Magesi pressed with increasing purpose and the equaliser, when it came, shifted the momentum firmly in the hosts’ favour.
Punished In The Final Quarter
Once level, Magesi were relentless. Elmo Kambindu, the former Chippa United and AmaZulu striker, inspired the comeback with the leveller, and Matome Mabeba added a second as Venda’s resistance frayed under sustained pressure. Kambindu then settled matters from the penalty spot in the closing stages to complete his brace and seal a 3-1 win. Three goals in the final phase of the match reflected both Magesi’s cutting edge and Venda’s inability to see out the contest.
Tembo’s Rebuild Continues
For Kaitano Tembo, appointed earlier in the season, this was another instructive afternoon in a campaign built on steady improvement rather than instant results. The derby exposed the gap that still exists between Venda and the division’s front-runners, particularly in game management and converting dominance into goals. There were encouraging signs in the way his side started the second half; the task now is to carry that intent across a full ninety minutes.
Final word
Derbies turn on moments, and Venda had theirs before letting it slip. The scoreline flatters Magesi relative to the balance of the second half, but football rewards those who take their chances. Tembo’s men will take the positives from their opening spell and address, quickly, the collapse that followed.
