Black Leopards betters chances in playoffs

Black Leopards Football Club strengthened their chances of making it to the Premier Soccer League’s (PSL) promotion playoffs when they attained a 1-0 victory over Unthongathi Football Club Thohoyandou Stadium last Saturday thereby cementing their second position on the National First Division (NFD).
Lidoda Duvha has amassed 44 points from 26 matches and need 12 points from the remaining last four matches of the NFD in order to fight for the PSL status in the playoffs next month.
In their last four matches they face daunting task against recently crowned NFD log winners Highlands Park as well as Witbank Spurs, Richards Bay and Jomo Cosmos.
Managing Director of the club, Tshifiwa Thidiela said the remaining matches will be tough and will also test the strength of the team. “Witbank Spurs and Jomo Cosmos are also fighting for the play-offs spot. Cosmos is in the third position with 42 points, Spurs on the fifth position with 39 points and we have 44 points so it not going to be easy. The Highlands Park match it is going to be worse because they are not playing for anything, they have already won the title. They will be relaxed and it is not easy to play against a relaxed team because they got nothing to lose and are dangerous too,” Thidiela predicted.
He continued to say that the duel against Richard’s Bay Football Club will not be easy given their position in the division.
“They are fighting for relegation and you know that teams that are fighting for relegation are not easy to crack. However, we have a good technical team headed by Joel Masutha and Morgan Shivambu they know Black Leopards very well and they have doing very well since taking over. We also have players that work together as a team and they have a will to fight for success and I think we will make it to the playoffs,” Thidiela concluded.
The promotion playoffs are contested by three clubs, namely, the clubs that finish second and third in the NFD and the club that finishes 15th (second last) in the PSL.
The playoffs are contested in a league format (three points for a win) on a home and away basis.

Story and photo: Herbert Rachuene
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