While most teams affiliated with the Motsepe Foundation Championship League will focus on their Nedbank Cup campaigns this weekend, Black Leopards will take a different approach, using the time to address their scoring problems.
Lidoda Duvha were eliminated from the prestigious competition by Cape Town Spurs, who defeated them 4-2 in the qualification round at the Thohoyandou Stadium two months ago.
Black Leopards' head coach, Maxwell Konadu, said they would use the break to tighten the team's loose ends. He emphasised that the priority would be solving their scoring issues. Before their 1-0 victory over Orbit College FC last Saturday, Black Leopards had gone six games without a win.
The Ghanaian coach admitted his frustration, saying it was hard to understand why the team had struggled to collect maximum points, despite dominating ball possession in many games. As part of their preparations for the remainder of the season, Konadu said they would play several friendly matches during the break.
Konadu also highlighted that the break would allow injured players time to recover. Left back Siphelele Magubane was stretchered off the field on Saturday after sustaining a knee injury. Team captain Thendo Mukumela is still working towards full match fitness, following a right leg injury sustained in a game against Milford FC late last year.
Konadu assured supporters that they could expect a revitalised team in the 14 remaining league fixtures. Black Leopards' next league match is against Leruma United at the Lucas Moripe Stadium, outside Pretoria, next Saturday, 1 February. The team is currently in eighth position on the log, with 23 points.