Venda Football Club appoint Kaitano Tembo after poor Championship start

Venda Football Club have appointed Kaitano Tembo as their new head coach, replacing Clinton Larsen after a difficult opening to the Motsepe Foundation Championship season.

Larsen had been in charge since the beginning of last season, when he guided Venda to a ninth-place finish. However, the club began the current campaign with one draw and four defeats, prompting the decision to part company with the former Bloemfontein Celtic and Golden Arrows coach.

Venda confirmed Tembo’s arrival on Wednesday, describing the appointment as the start of a “new era at Tshirululuni”.

“CEO Dr Rendani Mulaudzi officially welcomed our new Head Coach, Kaitano Tembo, to the clubhouse this morning,” the club said.

“The hard work starts now as Coach Tembo takes the reins and prepares the squad for the battles ahead. A massive welcome.”

Tembo most recently worked as an assistant coach and later caretaker coach with Zimbabwe. Before that, he served as Head of Football at Sekhukhune United.

His first competitive assignment will come after the international break, when Venda host 12th-placed Midland Wanderers in the Motsepe Foundation Championship.

The new coach will then face league leaders Magesi.