Black Leopards again hunting for points

After defeating Marumo Gallants 3-2 in their Motsepe Foundation Championship League match at Thohoyandou Stadium last Saturday, Black Leopards aim to add more points to their league account when they face NB La Masia FC at Bidvest Stadium in Johannesburg on Friday afternoon.

Black Leopards, also known as Lidoda duvha, have yet to secure a victory in an away match this season. The arrival of the new head coach, Mr Peter Mponda, and his assistant, Solly Luvhengo, has not changed the team’s fortunes on the road, with Lidoda duvha losing all three away matches played under their guidance.

In a recent interview, Mr Luvhengo emphasised that everyone in their camp was aware that winning some of their away matches was crucial for their promotion ambitions to the elite league at the end of the season. Chairman Mr Tshifhiwa Thidiela added that their Ivorian striker, Jean Jaures Aime Aurlus Golly, will be available for selection on Friday after watching the team’s last two games from the grandstand because of a pending work-permit issuance. If given a chance, Golly is expected to form a strong combination with Bethuel Muzeu and Rophney Hlungwane up front.

A victory against La Masia could potentially propel Black Leopards from the 10^th to the fifth spot in the league standings. In other matches on Friday, JDR Stars will host Hungry Lions at Soshanguve Giant Stadium outside Pretoria, Magesi FC will have home-ground advantage against University of Pretoria FC at Polokwane’s Old Peter Mokaba Stadium.

Pace setters Orbit College FC will visit Casric Stars at Giyani Stadium. Milford FC will play against Platinum City Rovers at the Princess Magogo Stadium in Durban. Additional fixtures include Venda Football Club vs Marumo Gallants, Upington City vs Maritzburg United, and Pretoria Callies vs Baroka FC.

Date:01 December 2023

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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