Black Leopards are in a precarious situation and facing their demise. The once-feared and idolised club, who are now campaigning in the Motsepe Foundation Championship (national first division), are staring relegation to the ABC Motsepe League, the third-tier league of SA football, in the face.
Lidoda Duvha, as the club is devotedly known, enjoyed legendary status in the elite league and produced some of the top players in the country before they were relegated in the 2020/21 season.
The Venda-based team are now rock bottom and sitting on position 16 on national first division log table. Other PSL clubs that have been relegated to the ABC
Motsepe League are Santos FC, Jomo Cosmos and Moroka Swallows.
An insider close to the events has mentioned that Leopards are always changing coaches and have suspended and kicked out key players and members of the technical team.
He added that the club cannot decide which venue they want to use after the Collins Chabane municipality gave them the Malamulele Stadium after it was refurbished – and then they returned to play their home matches at the Thohoyandou Stadium.
Club director Tshifhiwa Thidiela says they are aware that not many PSL teams have been able to bounce back from the ABC Motsepe League and they are praying God will answer their prayers so that they can survive the relegation axe.
“It will be very sad if the club follows the likes of Jomo Cosmos and Santos. We know what happens in the second division, it is almost impossible to bounce back – no team has ever returned. The difference between the first and second divisions is vast, from playing and financially – there are huge financial implications for playing in the ABC Motsepe League,” said Thidiela.
“This club is engraved in SA’s history and it helps families in the villages. A lot of people have been able to put bread on the table because of this club and it will not only be a loss for David Thidiela and his family, but to the community and people of Limpopo at large,” he added.
“We will continue to fight. There are eight matches to play and 24 points to fight for. Our players have been very unfortunate – if you have seen our matches, we could not ask for more from the players and the coaches. We are just losing matches that we should be
winning because we are missing easy scoring chances,” Thidiela said.
He explained how the club got into this situation: “The location and facilities are a big contributing factor. Sometimes we have to drive for two hours to Polokwane and then get on a flight – the players are tired by the time they get onto the field.
“Facilities are also a problem and we wish that the Thulamela municipality can make use of the stadium affordable. The club spends about R12-million a year.”
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