Venda Football Academy appoint Michael Loftman replacement |

Venda Football Academy have moved swiftly to appoint the replacement of Michael Loftman, who recently left his position as the club’s head coach.

The Motsepe Foundation Championship side have been without a coach for a while now after parting company with Loftman last month.

Venda Football Academy have now announced the appointment of Simo Dladla as their new head coach. He was in the books of Swallows as an assistant coach to Brandon Truter last season.

Dladla is highly experienced in the second division after fruitful spells with Real Kings and Richards Bay.

“Venda Football Academy [VFA] is delighted to announce the appointment of Sydney Simo Dladla as new head coach with immediate effect,” the club confirmed in a tweet.

“The head coach position became vacant after the previous coach’s resignation last month.

“Dladla is a seasoned coach with vast experience.

“His coaching history shows that Venda Football Academy appointed the right person who knows and understands the local football,” read the statement.

The 41-year-old mentor proved his tactical prowess after knocking Kaizer Chiefs out of the 2021 Nedbank Cup in the round of 32 while at Richards Bay.

Dladla is known for his progressive positional football and will perhaps help the Academy turn the corner.

The Thohoyandou-based side have had a challenging start to the new campaign and lies 13th on the league table.

VFA have won just two games and suffered five defeats in seven games played so far in the second tier.

In the Motsepe Foundation Championship matches that took place on Tuesday. They succumbed to a 2-0 loss to Hungry Lions.

While Vincent Kobola and his Baroka team claimed a 2-1 victory against Platinum City Rovers in the Limpopo derby.

Polokwane City beat Pretoria Callies 1-0 at Lucas Moripe Stadium. The Limpopo-based outfit will face the in-form University of Pretoria on the 15th of October as Dladla eyes a perfect start to his term.