Contrary to people's expectations, the coach of Black Leopards, Mr Luc Eymael, and his Lamontville Golden Arrows counterpart, Mr Stephen Komphela, shook hands after their teams' league game at the Thohoyandou Stadium last Saturday evening. Leopards won 2-1. The two were at each other's throats for several months before meeting face to face on Saturday.
Prior to the game, Mr Komphela had verbally attacked Mr Eymael in public, saying the latter regarded himself as the most superior coach in the country. Mr Eymael was said to have given the local PSL clubs interested in his services a week to come up with their offers or else he would consider offers from overseas-based clubs.
Asked about his relationship with Mr Eymael after the game, Mr Komphela was quick to mention that he did not hold grudges. As for the game itself, Mr Komphela said that he was disappointed by the results as they were all over Lidoda duvha for most parts of the game.
Mr Eymael said the victory would boost the players' morale after suffering a 0-3 defeat at the hands of Chippa United at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Port Elizabeth last Wednesday, 27 November. He further indicated that his aim was to see the team maintain their current form and finish the league programme within the top-8 bracket.
Following their 2-1 victory over Lamontville Golden Arrows last Saturday, Black Leopards moved from the 12th to the ninth position on the log standings.
Black Leopards did not lose hope, despite the fact that Arrows were the first to find the net. They were awarded a penalty 37 minutes into the game. Knox Mutizwa made no mistake from the white spot. Leopards came back strongly in the last half. Lesedi Kapinga scored the equalizer in the 70th minute while a substitute, Themba Ndlovu, was on the target later in the game.