Tzaneen United team owner Dennus Mafologela has assembled a competitive team this season.
By: Refilwe Sebola
Tzaneen United FC produced a stunning performance on Saturday afternoon to outshine their arch-rivals Nkowankowa Continental with an emphatic 3–1 victory in the Limpopo ABC Motsepe League derby at Nkowankowa Stadium.
United were a class above from the first whistle, showing composure, creativity, and confidence against a usually fierce Continental side. Unlike in previous encounters that often ended in stalemates, this time around a rejuvenated Tzaneen United completely dominated the youthful Continental outfit.
The visitors opened the scoring early through Frank “Makua” Thobejane, whose well-taken free kick gave United an early lead. The momentum continued as Thulani “Lolo” Mbonani, the eventual Man of the Match, doubled the advantage before halftime with a sharp finish following a well-orchestrated midfield move.
In the second half, Mbonani – donning the number 15 jersey – sealed his brace with a magnificent free kick that left the Continental goalkeeper rooted to the spot. Continental, to their credit, fought back towards the end, managing a late consolation goal, but it was too little, too late.
United’s midfield duo of Mbonani and Innocent “Lavesi” Soko, both formerly of National First Division side Casric Stars, were simply unplayable. They dictated the tempo, controlled possession, and kept Continental chasing shadows for most of the game.
Spectators couldn’t help but draw comparisons between Mbonani and Kaizer Chiefs and Bafana Bafana legend Doctor Khumalo — not only for his number 15 shirt but also for his flair, precision passing, and exceptional vision on the pitch.
The victory reflects the growing influence of Tzaneen United’s new technical team, Coach Siya from Eswatini and seasoned local mentor Moses “Poker” Malatji, formerly with Golden Syrup FC. Together, they seem to have found a winning formula.
With the win, Tzaneen United now sit second on the log, level on points with long-time leaders Mpheni Defenders, both with three points after their opening fixtures.
The message from Tzaneen United is clear: this season, they mean business.