Kaitano Tembo lands new job in SA after Warriors snub

Former Zimbabwe Warriors interim coach Kaitano Tembo has been appointed head coach of South Africa’s Motsepe Foundation Championship side Venda FC after being snubbed for the Warriors job.

Tembo was overlooked in the selection process as the Zimbabwe Football Association [ZIFA] appointed Spaniard Ramon Catala as the new Warriors coach.

Catala took over following Tembo’s brief stint as interim Zimbabwe coach after Romanian Mario Marinica’s departure in April.

Kaitano Tembo had appeared likely to get the job on a permanent basis after leading the Warriors at the 2026 Unity Cup in London, but ZIFA settled for Catalá.

The former Sekhukhune United development coach had been relegated to lead the Zimbabwe Under-20 side after serving as Marinica’s assistant at the 2025 AFCON finals.

KAITANO TEMBO TAKES OVER FROM CLINTON LARSEN AT VENDA

Tembo now takes over at Venda FC, replacing Clinton Larsen, who had been retained after guiding the club to a ninth-place finish last season.

Venda chairman Itani Munzhelele confirmed the changes during an exclusive interview on Phalaphala FM‘s sports show on Tuesday evening.

Tembo, 56, will be assisted by Fannie Mthethwa, with a fitness trainer to be announced in due course. The Zimbabwean tactician brings extensive experience in South Africa, having coached SuperSport United, Sekhukhune United and Richards Bay.

His longest spell came at SuperSport, where he managed 135 matches, recording 55 wins, 42 draws and 38 defeats, and guided the club to the 2019 MTN8 title.

At Sekhukhune, he managed 12 league matches, winning two, drawing five and losing five. His immediate task at Venda will be to turn around the Limpopo club’s fortunes and push for promotion to the Betway Premiership.

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