The coach of Black Leopards, Mr Jeff Loscuito, says he is happy about the outcome of the draws for the promotional playoffs. The draws were conducted at the Premier Soccer League's offices on Tuesday afternoon.
The first fixture will be played on Wednesday, 31 May. Stellenbosch FC will host the Premier Division team that will finish in the 15th position in the opening fixture. Stellenbosch will then meet Black Leopards at the Thohoyandou Stadium on Saturday, 3 June. On 7 June, Lidoda Duvha will travel to the Premier Division team at the latter's home ground.
Saturday 10 June will see Stellenbosch FC undertake a journey to the Premier Division team. That will be followed by the match between Stellenbosch FC and Black Leopards at the Parow Park Stadium in Cape Town on Wednesday, 14 June. The final fixture will be between Black Leopards and the Premier Division team at the Thohoyandou Stadium on Saturday, 17 June.
When asked to comment about the draw, the coach of Black Leopards, Mr Jeff Loscuito, said the fact that they would play their opening and last fixtures at home was reason for him and his team to be extremely happy. He said that they would make sure that they won their first match at home, in order to boost the players' morale.
Loscuito said the fact that the first match would be played in two weeks' time was a blessing in disguise to them, as it would give their diminutive striker, Siphelele Mkhulise, enough time to recover. Mkhulise was taken off the pitch on a stretcher in their game against Mthatha Bucks at the Thohoyandou Stadium last Sunday.
The team that will finish the promotional playoff matches on top of the three-team log will be promoted to the Absa Premiership Division.