Some new faces in the Black Leopards’ camp

In their bid to revive their league campaign, Black Leopards are leaving nothing to chance as they work to strengthen an underperforming squad. Club chairman Tshifhiwa Thidiela said that while most Motsepe Foundation Championship clubs allowed players two or three weeks’ rest during the FIFA break, it was business as usual at Leopards.

Thidiela said the team played several friendly matches over the past few weeks to improve fitness levels. Their most recent outing was against Betway Premiership side Mamelodi Sundowns at Polokwane’s New Peter Mokaba Stadium on Monday.

He added that the 4-0 defeat did not reflect the balance of play, saying Leopards missed several scoring opportunities. “It was not about winning the friendly games, but to gauge the team’s level of readiness for the remaining league matches,” he said.

Thidiela said supporters should expect a new-look Black Leopards in the remaining fixtures. He confirmed the return of former Malawian midfielder Rafic Namwera, who spent four years at the club before his contract expired on 30 June last year.

Other experienced players currently in the Leopards’ camp include Yagan Sasman (Kaizer Chiefs), Makhetha Tsotetsi (Sekhukhune United), Xolani Silaula (Durban City) and Chris Matombo (Venda Football Club).

Black Leopards resume their league campaign with an away match against Hungry Lions at the Mxolisi Dicky Jacobs Stadium in Upington on Sunday, 25 January.

Date:16 January 2026

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.

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