Leopards claw closer to the top
Black Leopards take another step towards securing their spot in the Absa Premiership next season when they eke out a draw.
Black Leopards took another step toward securing their spot in the Absa Premiership for next season when they eked out a draw at Platinum Stars at Moruleng Stadium on Saturday night in a National First Division play-off match.
The point earned by Liduda Duvha puts them in a good position as they now need just a point from their last match against Jomo Cosmos on Wednesday to secure their spot. Lidoda Duvha coach Joel Masutha meanwhile wants to ensure there is no guessing or calculations done after Wednesday’s match as he seeks a win.
Leopards have five points while Ezenkosi and Dikwena have two each.
“There is no two ways about It. We have to win on Wednesday. Our people deserve to have a team in the top flight. We are doing this for them. They have always been with us,” said Masutha.
“We played well but we had lapses in concentration at the back which we should work on. It was a tough match. They knew that if they didn’t won they would be out. We are happy with a point,” he said.
Mwape Musonda was the hero as he twice cancelled out Letsie Koapeng’s goals to earn the point for the Thohoyandou side.
“He works so hard. I am happy for him and I wish him to play in the Premiership. This is why he is working so hard to make sure we go there together,” Masutha said of the Zambian striker.
On Dikwena’s side, Roger de Sa said he could not fault how his side played but bemoaned Nyiko Tshabangu’s sending-off early in the second half as having derailed their plans.
“We were pretty good and we did what we had to. The red card was a little soft. It is just like the goal we had disallowed against them in the first match. But it’s things we cannot control but those decisions cost us a lot.
“We have a very slim chance now. We have to wait and see what happens on Wednesday. It is no longer in our hands,” said De Sa.
Stars play their last game against Cosmos on Saturday but it would be meaningless if Leopards win or draw on Wednesday.