Black Leopards did not return home after their midweek Motsepe Foundation Championship League match against Upington City at Mxolisi Dicky Jacobs Stadium in Upington. Instead, they remained in the Northern Cape to prepare for their next league fixture against Hungry Lions, which will also be played at the same venue on Saturday afternoon.
The result of their midweek match against Upington City was not available at the time of our going to press.
Black Leopards head coach, Zeca Marques, told Limpopo Mirror shortly before the team departed for Upington on Monday afternoon that they had one goal in mind—to secure at least four points from the six available in their two matches.
He emphasised that their dream of securing a place in the promotion playoffs at the end of the season would be shattered if they continued to drop points at this critical stage of the league. Marques also confirmed that left-back Siphelele Magubane was part of the squad traveling to the Northern Cape.
Magubane was stretchered off with a ligament injury during their home match against JDR Stars two weeks ago. If he makes the starting lineup against Hungry Lions on Saturday, he will be expected to form a solid defensive combination with Sydney Fakude and Thendo Mukumela.
Marques also expressed concern about his players' lack of concentration, particularly in the closing minutes of matches. He cited their recent encounter against JDR Stars as an example, where Leopards led 2-0 at half-time, only for the Pretoria side to stage a late comeback and score twice in the dying moments to secure a 2-2 draw.