Drama in the Leopards' den

Black Leopards will face Stellenbosch FC in their Absa Premiership League match at the Ida's Valley Stadium in Stellenbosch tomorrow afternoon. Lidoda Duvha, who parted ways with their technical staff early this week, must win the match at all costs to restore their lost pride.

Leopards suffered a 0-2 defeat at the hands of Baroka FC in their Limpopo derby at the Thohoyandou Stadium last Sunday.

Following the embarrassing defeat, the Thohoyandou side blamed the team’s technical staff. The team’s head coach, Mr Lionel Soccoia, his assistant, Mr Patrick Mabedi, and the team manager, Mr Mlungisi Ngubane, were dismissed. According to the club’s spokesperson, Mr Berry Ramunenyiwa, the trio parted ways with the club in an amicable manner.

Ramunenyiwa further stated that after some lengthy discussions, all parties came to a mutual agreement that the departure of Mr Soccoia and his company would be the best thing to do in the interest of the club and the supporters. Ramunenyiwa revealed that a former player, Mr Morgan Shivambu and the current goalkeepers' trainer, Mr Sam Banda, will take over as the team’s caretaker coaches until a new coach was appointed.

In the other Absa Premiership League matches that will also be played tomorrow, Chippa United, who fired the team’s head coach, Mr Clinton Larsen, on Monday, will entertain Bloemfontein Celtic at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Port Elizabeth.  Polokwane City will host SuperSport United at the Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane. City rose to the occasion and beat Kaizer Chiefs 1-0 in their league match last Saturday evening.

Mamelodi Sundowns and Maritzburg United will meet at the Lucas Moripe Stadium in Pretoria. Bidvest Wits and Orlando Pirates will test each other’s strength at the Bidvest Stadium.  Cape Town City will host Lamontville Golden Arrows, while Baroka FC will have a date with Highlands Park at the Old Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane.

Date:19 September 2019

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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