Black Leopards are leaving no stone unturned in their preparations for their Motsepe Foundation Championship League match against Baroka FC, set to take place at Thohoyandou Stadium on Saturday afternoon. Aside from the fact that this is a derby, Black Leopards and Baroka have unfinished business.
Lidoda Duvha will be out for revenge after suffering a 4-2 defeat against Baroka in their first-round league encounter at the Global Stadium in Lebowakgomo about four months ago. Leopards' head coach, Joel Masutha, also has a point to prove on Saturday. Masutha was in charge of Baroka when they defeated Black Leopards in that match. However, his tenure with Baroka ended abruptly two days after a crushing 5-1 defeat against Venda Football Club at Thohoyandou Stadium on Saturday, 1 February. Now at the helm of Leopards, Masutha will be eager to prove to his former employers that dismissing him was a costly mistake.
Saturday's match will mark Masutha's first game in charge of Leopards since taking over from Zeca Marques last week. Meanwhile, Baroka's performance has declined significantly since Masutha's departure, with the team managing only one win in their five matches since his exit. Baroka's new head coach, Dan Malesela, who was appointed last week, will face a stern test in this crucial fixture.
A victory against Baroka on Saturday would boost Leopards' promotion hopes. They currently sit in seventh place on the log with 31 points, 11 behind the leaders, Durban City. Breaking through the Leopards' defensive wall—marshalled by Sydney Fakude, Siphelele Magubane, and Tshepo Matsimbi—will be no easy task for Baroka's strikers.