THOHOYANDOU – The coach of Black Leopards, Mr David Byrne, is a worried man. According to him, his players let him down by throwing away a 3-1 victory with ten minutes remaining when they played to a 3-3 draw with Highlandspark Silver Stars, in a Castle Premiership League match at the Thohoyandou Stadium on Saturday.

Byrne told Mirror that they had the game safely in the bag, but made silly mistakes that led to Stars' scoring two goals in quick succession. He severely criticized his players for what he named "loss of concentration" before the game was over.

That would have been the first victory for Leopards in the new year. Byrne said that he was going to hold a meeting with the players during the week, in which he would indicate to them how complacency on their part cost them an obvious victory.

However, many people who were interviewed by Mirror after the game feel that the coach must carry the blame. "The coach owes us an explanation as to why he chose to replace his most prolific players,, Christopher Netshidzivhe and Kevin Mushangazhike, with the defenders at the time when we were leading 3-1," said a man who was almost in tears.

Leopards started to defend deep in their own half after scoring their third goal and thus allowing Stars to come to them with full force. Many fans told the team's managing director, Mr David Thidiela, openly after the game that they were sick and tired of losing matches, at home and away, as if they were rookies in the elite league.

They told him that it was high time for the coach to be replaced, saying he has run out of ideas. Some of the Leopards' players were seen crying after the game. Mr Thidiela promised the angry fans that he was going to attend to their grievances as a matter of urgency, but how, remains to be seen.