Black Leopards have confirmed that they are buying a status in the professional league and will be using the same name in the coming season.
This was confirmed by chairman Tshifiwa Thidiela during a press conference held at Meropa Casino, announcing that they have bought the status of All Stars in the Motsepe Foundation Championship. Leopards were relegated from the Motsepe Foundation Championship this past season, but will be back in the second tier, as Thidiela confirmed that the purchase has been approved by the Premier Soccer League.
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"The decision we've taken was, let us go and find another status that will then allow Black Leopards to participate in professional football. What I am saying is that we will have Black Leopards in the Motsepe Foundation Championship. It will be participating as Black Leopards. Obviously, there are many changes that we will need to bring in because we feel that our community and many people in Limpopo rely on us," Thidiela told media during a media briefing on Friday morning.
"There was a lot of fighting or arguing within the family. Our issue was mainly the fact that we need to adjust some of the things. We can go do things the same way we have done because that will only mean the results will be the same. Now, we do not want to find ourselves in the same situation. It's going to be a bit difficult now when you look at the fact that it's almost time for the teams to start with pre-season. We need something like eight weeks to do proper preparation for the new season, but we are saying we are going ahead. This is what we have chosen to do. The process was only completed earlier on Tuesday. We've got permission to utilise the emblem and name of the club."
David Thidiela, the former chairman of the club, will serve as president, giving advice to his sons who will now be running the team.
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"We had to sit and beg with our father, Mr David Thidiela. Because of his game, he was looking more at wanting to retire. We had to sit and beg him and say that Black Leopards are not Black Leopards without him. It is where it is because of him. We have requested him and he has agreed to be president of Black Leopards. He will remain as president and we will get advice from him. We felt that we still need his guidance."
Leopards will make an announcement on who the head coach will be, but they have already confirmed former midfielder, Peter Mponda, as an assistant for the upcoming season. The club will be based in Polokwane and not Thohoyandou, as was the case previously.
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