Limpopo club fighting to retain PSL status

Relegated Motsepe Foundation Championship side Black Leopards are awaiting the outcome of SAFA arbitration proceedings in their bid to have four league matches replayed.

Leopards were relegated to the SAFA ABC Motsepe League after finishing 15th at the end of last season. However, the club has lodged a protest after being forced to play four league matches without a full squad.

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This came after the registration cards of several new signings were withdrawn by the League amid confusion over an alleged FIFA ban. At the time, the club was not under any FIFA sanction.

Leopards played their opening match with only nine players, including an outfield player deployed as a goalkeeper due to a shortage of available players. They went on to lose 3-0 against Casric Stars.

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In the following two matches, Leopards again failed to meet the required number of under-23 players and continued using an outfield player in goal.

The matches against the University of Pretoria and Lerumo Lions were also played under protest, with complaints raised against Lidoda Duvha for allegedly failing to meet league requirements.

Limpopo Chronicle understands that Leopards lost the matter at the PSL Dispute Resolution Chamber (DRC) before immediately appealing with SAFA arbitration.

The club is now seeking an order for their opening four league matches to be replayed and has enlisted prominent advocate Tembeka Ngcukaitobi to represent them.