Black Leopards up against Baroka in battle of the weaklings

After playing two Motsepe Foundation Championship League matches away from home, Black Leopards will be back at Thohoyandou Stadium this Sunday to host Baroka FC.

Lidoda Duvha must beat Baroka to restore the team’s pride. Both teams are in a similar situation, fighting for survival. Before Wednesday’s match against Upington City at the Mxolisi Dicky Jacobs Stadium, Black Leopards were rooted at the bottom of the log with ten points, while Baroka were second-last with 12 points.

Baroka entertained Highbury FC at the Global Stadium in Lebowakgomo on Wednesday. Results were not available at the time of going to print.

A glance at the head-to-head record shows Baroka have the upper hand. Over the past seven years, they have won 12 of the 24 matches against Leopards, who have won four, with eight ending in draws. Their last meeting, at the Global Stadium in Lebowakgomo on Sunday, 29 November, saw Leopards beaten 3-1.

Leopards’ strikers - Bethuel Muzeu, Donald Mudau and Brain Nkosi - must improve their work rate, or the team risks relegation at the end of the season.

The Thohoyandou side recently acquired several seasoned players. Some of the new signees likely to make their debut on Sunday include Yagan Sasman and Chris Matombo.

Venda Football Club will play Gomora United at Malamulele Stadium in one of two matches scheduled for Friday afternoon.

Date:30 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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