Although Black Leopards are currently fighting for survival, their manager, Mr Elijah Mulaudzi, is still optimistic that they will finish their league programme on top of the log and gain promotion to the Absa Premiership Division.
Lidoda Duvha are lying in the 13th position on the 16-team log.
Mulaudzi appealed to the team's supporters not to press the panic button, even though the club's future as an affiliate of the NFD is hanging in the balance.
He stated that the appointment of the team's new head coach, Mr Jacky Ivan Minnaert, was a clear indication that they were serious about promotion to the elite league, come end of the season. He said that they knew they were currently nine points behind the pace setters, Highlands Park, saying that gap was still within reach.
"Nine points equal to only three matches and we still have 20 matches to play before the activities for the current season come to an end," he said. He reiterated that the first team on their hit list was Mthatha Bucks, with whom they will lock horns at the Thohoyandou Stadium tomorrow afternoon. He stressed that they knew Mthatha Bucks are a strong side.
"We told the boys that if we are serious about promotion we must conquer the so-called big guns," he said. According to Mulaudzi, the mood is "superb" in the camp after the arrival of the new team's head coach. He also stated that all players, including Phathutshedzo Nange and Eden Nene, are back in the team after watching several games from the grandstand due to injuries.