Leopards in trouble

Thousands of Black Leopards supporters left the Thohoyandou Stadium with sore hearts, after their team lost 0-3 to Thanda Royal Zulu in their National First Division League match on Wednesday afternoon.

The home side enjoyed most of the ball possession throughout the game, but it was not their day. Their keeper, Jacob Mokhasi, was reduced to a mere spectator for the better part of the game, and he only came into the picture when Royal Zulu scored their goals.

The opening goal came in the 18th minute, when Menzi Hlope finished off a square pass from Ace Bhengu. Leopards used two of their substitutions during the first half. They introduced Meshack Maphangule and Abbas Amidu for Samuel Tefu and Bongani Manana respectively.

Cyril Masinga of Royal Zulu found himself on the wrong side of the football laws in the 38th minute. He was warned for a continued argument with the referee, Mr Lwandile Mfiki. Lidoda Duvha replaced Ntokozo Mbhele with Karabo Tsepe in the 46th minute.

Leopards missed a fortunate opportunity in the 54th minute. They were awarded a penalty after a defender of Royal Zulu, Thabang Thopola, had handled the ball within his own penalty area. Mumuni Abubakar caused dismay in the crowd, when his volley hit the crossbar and landed outside the field of play for a goal kick.

The Royal Zulus then changed their tactic and abandoned their positions. They packed themselves at the back in a bid to defend their lead, only relying on counter-attacks.

A clearing error by Jabulani Ndebele gave rise to Royal Zulu’s second goal. Thabang Thopola won the loose ball and beat the keeper with a close range ground cutter. The visitors from Kwazulu-Natal put the matter beyond doubt in the 74th minute. Ace Bhengu blasted in a rocket following a neat pass from Eden Nene.

This was Leopards’ second defeat in a row after losing 0-1 to Royal Eagles in Durban last Friday evening.

Date:31 October 2014

By: Frank Mavhungu

Frank is a Human Resources Manager at the Department of Public Works in Limpopo. He is the longest serving correspondent of the Mirror, having joined us at the end of 1990.  He mainly writes sports reports and resides at Tsianda Village. In 2004, Frank won the National Castle League Award, an award for the best reporter in the SAB league in South Africa.

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