Humiliation for Black Leopards

Lindokuhle Mbata of Highlands Park makes a sharp turn with the ball.

Humiliation for Black Leopards

Black Leopards lost 0-1 to Highlands Park in their National First Division League match at the Thohoyandou Stadium on Saturday.

It was a game characterized by missed scoring opportunities. The home side soon realized that it was not their day when they missed a clear-cut chance six minutes into the game. Their bulldozer striker, Mwape Musonda, received a neat pass from Kagiso Selemela and miskicked the ball from inside the box, much to the disappointment of the team’s supporters.

Park’s keeper, Marlon Heugh, made his presence felt in the 16^th minute. Karabo Tsepo, Leopards’ right winger, unleashed a half volley from the 25-meter area. Heugh braved the shot and fisted the ball away for a corner kick.

The visitors from Thembisa made amends and started to push forward in search of goals. Their effort was not in vain as they were finally rewarded in the 30^th minute. Mothobi Mvala headed home from the edge of the box. Leopards’ keeper, Adelhbola Aifimi, could not deal with the aerial ball that hit the crossbar and landed across the goal line.

The goal seemed to be a real insult to Leopards’ players. They took the game to the visitors in the remaining part of the first half, but it was difficult for them to find their way through the defence of Highlands Park. Mothobi Mvalo of Highlands Park was warned with a card, following a dangerous tackle on Marks Munyai, the Leopards’ captain.

Leopards effected three changes to their original line-up towards the halfway mark for the second half. They replaced Morgan Shivambu, Kagiso Semelane and Karabo Tsepo with Meshack Maphangule, Thembisani Nevhulamba and Joseph Mhlongo respectively. Leopards were all over Highlands Park in the last 20 minutes of the game, forcing the Park’s keeper to work overtime.

Khuliso Mudau of Leopards in action after heading the ball away, while Jean Munganga of Leopards (left) and Suhayl Allie of Highlands Park (middle) are focused on the ball.

Mwape Musonda of Leopards (right) and Christophe Komane of Highlands Park chase the ball.

Karabo Tsepo of Leopards chases the ball.

Date:02 November 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.

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