After parting ways with Black Leopards last week, former head coach Zeca Marques still cannot understand the circumstances surrounding his dismissal.
Marques was sacked despite his team securing four points from two successive away matches. Leopards defeated Upington City 1-0 at the Mxolisi Dicky Jacobs Stadium in Upington on Wednesday, 12 March. They then played to a 2-2 draw against Hungry Lions FC at the same venue on Saturday, 15 March.
Although these results appeared solid, the club's management seemingly viewed things differently. Marques said he was shocked when informed that he had been demoted to assistant coach with immediate effect. He stated that changing his role without valid justification was a clear sign that the club was looking for an excuse to fire him.
Marques pointed out that when he had taken over from Ghanaian coach Maxwell Konadu earlier this year, the team's future had looked uncertain. Under his guidance, Lidoda Duvha collected eight points from five matches, winning two, drawing twice, and losing just once. The 63-year-old Portuguese coach insisted that earning eight points in five matches was a respectable record and no cause for panic, as Black Leopards were still in contention for promotion.
He added that there was no bad blood between him and club chairman Tshifhiwa Thidiela. Asked about his next move, the former Moroka Swallows coach said he was still considering job offers from other Motsepe Foundation Championship clubs.
Confirming Marques' departure, Thidiela announced that Joel Masutha would take charge of the team until further notice.