Newly appointed Black Leopards coach Mabhuti Khenyeza has explained why he did not hesitate to take the coaching job at the club when approached by Lidoda Duvha boss David Thidiela.
Khenyeza began his tenure at the Motsepe Foundation Championship side on Tuesday, 11 November. This is after he left the SAFA ABC Motsepe League side Komani United in the Eastern Cape.
The 43-year-old comes into the club to replace Joel Masutha, who parted ways with them after the 1-0 defeat to Cape Town City FC on Sunday.
Abel Makhubela, who also serves as team manager, will be his assistant coach, while Simon Gopane will handle the role of goalkeeper coach.
MABHUTI KHENYEZA EXPLAINS WHY HE CHOSE TO JOIN BLACK LEOPARDS
“Leopards are a big team. Sometimes when you see them at a place where they don’t belong, you feel you need to help somehow,” Khenyeza told FARPost.
“Whatever we have achieved in football, Leopards played a big role also because we were competing with them.
“So whenever you have an opportunity to help and impart your knowledge, I think it can be easier to come and assist,” he added. “If it were another team, I would have hesitated. But because it’s a club like Leopards with a reputation now, it’s easier to come and give yourself an opportunity to work.
“We still have 20 games to play. In those 20 games, you can count the points; we can’t dwell on relegation. We are not even halfway through the season. So it’s important that you take care of that one game at a time. So that you remove yourself from where you are.”
Khenyeza’s first match in charge will be the Vhembe Doerby against rivals Venda FC at the Thohoyandou Stadium on Friday, 21 November. They are currently third from the bottom of the log with nine points from the 10 games played.
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