Black Leopards FC are facing the most difficult time in the history of the club. They can only survive the relegation axe under two conditions. Not only must Lidoda duvha win their five remaining matches, but Platinum City Rovers must also lose at least four of their remaining fixtures to drop down the order on the log.

Their first assignment is to beat Tshakhuma Tsha Madzivhandila (TTM), with whom they will rub shoulders at the Thohoyandou Stadium on Sunday afternoon. Should they fail to collect the maximum points at the expense of TTM on Sunday, Black Leopards will have only themselves to blame.

TTM, or Vhadau Vha Damani as they are affectionately called, are still to win a league match this year. The last time TTM won a league match was on Wednesday, 11 November 2022, when they beat Cape Town All Stars 1-0 at the Thohoyandou Stadium.

To prove that their situation is almost hopeless, TTM failed to impress their home crowd last Sunday when they played to a 2-2 draw with Cape Town All Stars at the Dr Molemela Stadium in Bloemfontein.

Black Leopards came back with empty hands from their Limpopo derby against Baroka FC, to whom they lost 0-1 at the Global Stadium in Lebowakgomo last Sunday. Although Leopards are rooted at the bottom of the log, the team’s head coach, Mr Owen Da Gama, is adamant that anything is still possible. He revealed that they were going to fight to the bitter end.

The other weekend fixtures are Cape Town Spurs vs Casric Stars, MM Platinum vs Polokwane City, Platinum City Rovers vs Baroka FC, Cape Town All Stars vs Magesi FC, Venda Football Academy vs Hungry Lions, Uthongathi FC vs Pretoria Callies and University of Pretoria vs JDR Stars.