Another victory for Black Leopards

Jean Munganga of Leopards is concentrating on the ball while Bongane Mathabela of Spurs (right) is attempting to intercept.

Another victory for Black Leopards

Black Leopards registered their fifth consecutive victory when they beat Witbank Spurs 1-0 in their NFD match at the Thohoyandou Stadium this past Saturday.

The score was not a true reflection of the game as Leopards were all over the visitors from Emalahleni from the start. As if they were leading, Spurs played defensive football, giving Lidoda Duvha enough opportunity to invade their territory.

The home side could have scored at least four goals during the first half, but their strikers, Mwape Musonda, Leonard Ntshangase and Siphelele Mkhulise, were unlucky. Mwape Musonda was the first player to cause an upset. He received a neat pass from Marks Munyai and held onto the ball for far too long within the box, before losing possession.

Leonard Ntshangase was brought down at the edge of the box in the 24^th minute. That prompted the Cape Town-born referee, Mr Naasif Julius, to award a free kick to Leopards. Phathutshedzo Nange shot wide from the set piece.

The Spurs’ keeper, Lawrence Mofokeng, was put to the test in the 29^th minute. Phathutshedzo Nange tried his luck from the 25-meter area with a volley. Mofokeng braved the shot and palmed the ball away for a corner kick. Spurs introduced Aleni Lebyane for Freddy Mthombeni in the 54^th minute and Leopards responded by replacing Siphelele Mkhulise and Thivhavhudzi Ndou with Ivan Mahangwahaya and Andiswa Ndawonde respectively.

The goal that earned Leopards three important points came in the 78^th minute. Leonard Ntshangase dished a square pass from the left corner and Ivan Mahangwahaya blasted in a rocket from inside the box. Spurs started to play attacking football soon thereafter, but it was already too late for them.

The team’s head coach, Mr Jeff Losciuto, congratulates the goal scorer, Ivan Mahangwahaya, after the game.

Bongane Mathabela of Spurs heads the ball away with Siphelele Mkhulise of Leopards behind him.

Patrick Mubayiwa of Spurs chases the high ball.

Date:02 March 2017

By: Frank Mavhungu

Frank is a Human Resources Manager at the Department of Public Works in Limpopo. He is the longest serving correspondent of the Mirror, having joined us at the end of 1990. He mainly writes sports reports and resides at Tsianda Village. In 2004, Frank won the National Castle League Award, an award for the best reporter in the SAB league in South Africa.

Read: 1212