OPINION: Leopards relegation a massive blow to football in Limpopo
The relegation of Black Leopards from the Motsepe Foundation Championship to the SAFA ABC Motsepe League is unfortunate, but it was always coming. Despite all this, one needs to acknowledge the contribution of the club itself and Mr David Thidiela to the development of football in Limpopo and the Vhembe region in particular.
Despite all his well-documented flaws, Thidiela is not appreciated enough for what he has done for football. I remember there were mixed reactions in 1998 when the Thidiela family purchased the Leopards status from local businessman Zakaria Mathelemusa. They kept the name but added a new slogan, ‘Lidoda Duvha’.
A slogan that has gone on to be known within football circles for great as well as bad things. The club went on to launch the most successful coaching career of Gavin Hunt, amongst others. They also represented South Africa at the CAF Confederations Cup while they were participating in the National First Division.
It has been 25 years now, and they have never looked back. Well, at least not until the dreadful Saturday at Isak Steyl Stadium in Vanderbijlpark when their relegation was confirmed. But all along, there has never been a rumour of a club being put on sale.
REACTION TO BLACK LEOPARDS RELEGATION
I have noted, particularly on social media platforms, people celebrating Leopards’ demise. Well, I’m not saying people should cry. But it’s worrying to note that we’re a generation whose memory is the size of a bikini to ignore the contributions.
It is Leopards who afforded most of us, if not the majority of Vhembe people, and in Limpopo, to watch professional football and our favourite teams live for the first time. It was Leopards who made young people from the region dream of playing professional football.
DAVID THIDIELA MASSIVE IMPACT ON FOOTBALL DEVELOPMENT
It is also the ‘Old Man’, as we refer to him, who helped revive football in Thohoyandou after the Thulamela Municipality had given the stadium to the Pakistan community to play full-time cricket and left it in a deplorable condition. Leopards at the time were playing their matches in Giyani and Polokwane. But the club made a decision to return to their original home.
Our mothers were able to make ends meet by selling at the stadium. The local economy also received a huge boost from football fanatics who would come from far.
As it stands, the club has produced a few Bafana Bafana internationals. The likes of Hlompho Kekana, Khuliso Mudau, Tiyani Mabunda, and Jabulani Maluleke, to mention a few.
The support at Thohoyandou, Malamulele, Giyani and Peter Mokaba Stadiums at all their games is evident that this is an institution that was close to people’s hearts. As I always say, it’s only Leopards and Bloemfontein Celtic supporters that come to what Kaizer Chiefs, Orlando Pirates, and Mamelodi Sundowns have in terms of support.
DOWNFALL TO LIDODA DUVHA
But the performances of the club and the instability in terms of coaching personnel contributed hugely to their downfall. Certainly, for a club that has been around for that long, it’s a lesson that should have been learnt by now.
The club going down means the Vhembe region will only have one professional club. [Not unless something drastic happens]. As history has taught us, the Motsepe Foundation Championship is a strange league, so it’s not over until it’s over. Stranger things have happened before, and teams that thought they were safe ended up being relegated. But I am not insinuating anything, I am just making reference to recent events.
There have also been unsubstantiated rumours that the Old Man was contemplating on purchasing a status ahead of next season. One would not be surprised if that is true as it’s a trend nowadays.
If, indeed, there is any truth to that, it would be great news for Lidoda Duvha supporters. Football needs Mr Thidiela, and he surely can’t live without football.
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