'Boosted' Leopards side must clear the City Rovers hurdle

After hosting Pretoria Callies in their Motsepe Foundation Championship League match at the Thohoyandou Stadium on Wednesday afternoon, Black Leopards will play another home match at the same venue when they meet Platinum City Rovers on Saturday afternoon. (The result of their midweek game against Pretoria Callies was not available at the time of our going to press.)

Black Leopards chairman Mr Tshifhiwa Thidiela is confident that they have done enough to ensure the team's promotion to the DStv Premiership League by the end of the season. He believes that their recent appointment of Mr Papi Zothwane as assistant coach demonstrates their commitment to achieving promotion.

Zothwane, the former Uthongathi FC mentor, joined Lidoda Duvha’s training camp for the first time on Thursday, 8 February. He has previously coached teams such as Polokwane City and Lamontville Golden Arrows. Thidiela reiterated that Zothwane’s arrival, along with the acquisitions made two weeks ago, would strengthen the club’s chances of reaching their goal.

Black Leopards recently bolstered their squad by signing Sedzani Mudau and Donald Makgetlwa. However, the team's right back, Tsepo Matsimbi, will be unavailable for their match against City Rovers as he serves a suspension, following a red card received in their game against Milford FC at the Chatsworth Stadium in Durban on Tuesday, 19 December.

In Matsimbi’s absence, players such as Thendo Mukumela, Tebogo Makobela, and Sanele Zulu will be expected to maintain the team's defensive stability. The striking duo of Bethuel Muzeu and Ivorian national Jean Jaures Golly has the potential to pose a threat in the opponents' penalty area. Muzeu was the league’s leading goal scorer with eight goals before their match against Pretoria Callies on Wednesday.

Sport - Date: 16 February 2024

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.

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