Two difficult away fixtures await the struggling Black Leopards this week

After a break of about two months, the battle for promotion and the fight to avoid relegation resume this weekend in the Motsepe Foundation Championship.

Black Leopards will begin the new year with two away fixtures in the space of four days. Their first outing is against Hungry Lions at the Mxolisi Dicky Jacobs Stadium in Upington on Sunday afternoon.

Hungry Lions have proved difficult to beat on home ground and are currently fifth on the log with 22 points, five behind leaders Milford FC. For Black Leopards, victory on Sunday is crucial if they are to boost their chances of escaping relegation at the end of the season. Lidoda duvha are rooted to the bottom of the standings with 10 points.

Leopards will remain in Upington after Sunday’s match and return to action on Wednesday, 28 January, when they face Upington City at the same venue. The task will be no easier, with Leopards needing maximum effort to overcome the hosts. Head coach Mabhuti Khenyeza said the team was travelling south-west with one objective: to collect all six points on offer and restore lost pride.

Upington City coach Musa Nyatama said his side would not underestimate Leopards, adding that a team under pressure could be dangerous and that he was expecting a tough encounter.

Leopards have recently bolstered their squad with the signings of experienced players Rafic Namwera, Chris Matombo and Yagan Sasman. If selected for the trip, Namwera is expected to link up with Donald Makgetlwa and Goodman Chirwa in midfield.

Centre-back Sydney Fakude will be available for selection on Sunday after missing the team’s last two matches through suspension.

Date:23 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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