More change on the cards for Leopards
ONLY 10 matches into the season, National First Division (NFD) club, Black Leopards are contemplating yet another change in the coaching department.
ONLY 10 matches into the season, National First Division (NFD) club, Black Leopards are contemplating yet another change in the coaching department.
The change, which could see former coach, Vladislav Heric taking over the reins from Joel Masutha, will be their fourth for this season.
Lidoda Duvha announced the appointment of Sean Connor as the head coach a few weeks before the commencement of the season, but the Irishman was given the boot before he could sit on the bench due to his failure to acquire a work permit.
Connor was replaced by Solly Luvhengo and Ashwin Sutton, who were both shown the door after four matches and made way for Masutha, who is likely to be relegated to assistant coach, with the Serbian mentor Heric in head coach position.
Heric has been issuing instructions to the players at training for a week now and he was at the stands when Black Leopards surrendered their 1-0 lead to settle for a 1-1 draw with Highlands Park at the Thohoyandou Stadium on Saturday.
CV has learnt that current Leopards coach, Masutha personally approached Heric to play the technical advisor role to him and Mongezi Bobe, but Leopards spokesperson Barry Ramunenyiwa said Heric has not been allocated a role at Lidoda Duvha yet.
“Heric is just assisting the players on certain aspects of their game.
“He is not assigned any role at the club, but since he volunteered to assist the players, we could use his expertise in that regard,” said Ramunenyiwa.
Changes are coming thick and fast at the Thohoyandou-based club. Their long serving and Malawian international defender, Harry Nyirenda is the club’s new captain. He took over from Mongezi Bobe, who is now the club’s assistant coach. Bobe took the captain’s armband from Jean Djunga Munganga at the beginning of the season.
Lidoda Duvha is in ninth position on the NFD log with 12 points from 10 matches. They are 10 points behind early pace setters Golden Arrows.
Leopards’ next match will be an away trip to Cape Town for a date with Santos on November 22.
