The well-known former Shayandima Bobs Stars striker, Emanuel "Mzumba" Davhana, was one of the most respected strikers in the Vhembe region.

Not only is the 21-day national lockdown affecting the business sector, but the football match officials are hit hard as well. In fact, the stranded local match officials have unanimously agreed that the lockdown has caused a double blow to them.

While teams affiliated to the other leagues are only worried about the congestion of league matches that they are likely to face after the lockdown, the affiliates for the Thulamela Local Football Association (Thulfa) are singing a different tune.

Black Leopards will not be relegated to the lower division at the end of this season if the words of the team’s striker, Mwape Musonda, are anything to go by.

The annual Makuya Soccer Tournament is likely not to be staged this year as a result of the national lockdown.

The national lockdown might have done the football industry more harm than good, but Black Leopards FC have taken something positive from it.

Mr Aaron Thidiela is one of the local football legends whose history remains undocumented. Hans Coetzee, as he was known in his heydays, said he started to play football in the streets of Vhufuli village at the age of 10.

At the age of 12, the future of a young female football referee, Ndofhiwa Pretty Makena, looks bright.

While the teams affiliated to the Absa Premiership Division are waiting for the league to make an announcement regarding the date on which the league activities will resume after the national lockdown, the Multichoice Diski Challenge League (MDC) teams are faced with a completely different situation. The league has decided to cancel all the MDC’s remaining fixtures.

Whether Joseph Mhlongo will still be a player for Black Leopards, come next season, remains to be seen. Mhlongo’s contract with Lidoda Duvha will expire at the end of June.

Tshakhuma Tsha Madzivhandila’s player, Masibusane Zongo, was supposed to appear before the club’s disciplinary committee last Friday, 27 March, to give answers to charges of misconduct. The case was postponed until further notice at the eleventh hour.

One of the directors of the Venda Football Academy (VFA), Mr Itani Munzhelele, has dismissed the rumour that they are in the process of buying a GladAfrica Championship League franchise from TS Sporting FC as baseless.

Weens die wêreldwye Covid-19 pandemie sal daar vir die volgende paar weke geen beriggewing oor sport wees nie tensy iets relevant opduik.

Black Leopards’ future as an affiliate of the Absa Premiership League might be hanging in the balance now, but they have something to be proud of. The team’s skipper, Thabo Matlaba, recently got a callup to be part of the national team, Bafana Bafana, in their next two African Cup of Nations qualifying matches.

During its sitting at the league offices in Thohoyandou last Tuesday evening, the disciplinary committee of the Safa Vhembe MMK Administrators league imposed heavy fines on several clubs.