Black Leopards must beat University of Pretoria FC (Amatuks) when they meet in their Motsepe Foundation Championship League match at the Thohoyandou Stadium on Sunday if they are serious about securing a place in the promotional playoffs at the end of the season.
(Leopards played against Marumo Gallants at the Lucas Moripe Stadium outside Pretoria on Wednesday afternoon. The result of the match was not yet available at the time of our going to press.)
Both Black Leopards and Amatuks desperately need the points from the match. A win for Amatuks will enhance their chances of outright promotion. They are currently lying in the second position on the log standings.
Beating Amatuks will not be easy for the Thohoyandou side, judging by Amatuks' performance in their game against Venda Football Club (VFC) at the Thohoyandou Stadium last Saturday. A goalless draw was not a true reflection of the game as Amatuks were all over Maunavhathu from the onset to the end. The likes of Thabang Sibanyoni, Samuel Julies, and Thulani Zandamela kept VFC's defenders running for cover throughout the game.
Leopards' number one goalkeeper, Mashudu Makhavhu, will watch the game from the grandstand. The diminutive goalie is still nursing his arm injury. Benjamin Schubert or Brighton Munthali will be expected to do the job in the absence of Makhavhu. Breaking the Leopards' wall, which is marshalled by Mokone Mereko, Tebogo Makobela, and the former AmaZulu stopper, Thendo Mukumela, will not be easy for Amatuks' strikers.