Thidiela optimistic Leopards will not be relegated

The chairman of Black Leopards Football Club, Mr David Thidiela, is optimistic that his club will collect enough points in their remaining six matches to make them escape the relegation axe at the end of the season.

Thidiela appealed to the team’s supporters to remain calm, saying Lidoda Duvha would manage to retain their Absa Premiership Division status come the end of the season.

According to him, his argument was based on his analysis of the remaining matches involving the teams that are in the relegation zone. He stated that Leopards would collect the maximum points in their three home fixtures and grab at least three points in the three matches they would play away from home. He reiterated the fact that the three teams that they will play at the Thohoyandou Stadium, Maritzburg United, SuperSport United and Bidvest Wits, would go back with empty hands.

He also stated that their target was to collect at least three points in their away matches against Amazulu, Lamontville Golden Arrows and Mamelodi Sundowns. According to Thidiela, Baroka FC, who are also fighting for survival, will be lucky if they manage to win any of their remaining six matches. Four of their remaining matches will be played away.

Three of the teams that Baroka will meet in their remaining fixtures, Kaizer Chiefs, Orlando Pirates and Mamelodi Sundowns, are closely contesting for the league title while two, Amazulu and Chippa United, are relegation candidates. The other match will be against SuperSport United.

Thidiela further stated that the other relegation candidates, Polokwane City, had a mountain to climb in their remaining fixtures.

Polokwane City, or Rise and Shine as they are affectionately called, will lock horns with Bloemfontein Celtic, Kaizer Chiefs, SuperSport United, Highlands Park, Mamelodi Sundowns and Bidvest Wits in their remaining fixtures.

According to Thidiela, either Baroka FC or Polokwane City will be relegated to the lower division while any of them will play in the promotional/relegation playoffs.  

Asked how he viewed Amazulu’s chances for survival, Mr Thidiela was quick to mention that Usuthu stood a good chance to escape the chop when he looked at their remaining fixtures. Amazulu’s remaining fixtures are: Baroka FC, Bidvest Wits, Bloemfontein Celtic, Black Leopards, Stellenbosch FC and Highlands Park.

Black Leopards would have played against SuperSport United at the Thohoyandou Stadium last Saturday, 11 April, had the PSL fixtures not been postponed because of the national lockdown.

Date:16 April 2020

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.

Read: 850