THOHOYANDOU – The relationship between the local PSL club, Black Leopards FC and a reporter of the Kick-off magazine, Mr Edshine Phosa, is becoming sour by the day. The whole saga started after Leopards dismissed their Mozambican coach, Mr Arnaldo Salvado early last month.

Salvado was reportedly interviewed by Phosa days after his dismissal and the story appeared in the magazine a week later. In the story Salvado described the Managing Director of Leopards, Mr David Thidiela, as "a man with little or no respect for others".

In the report, Salvado also stated that he never selected the team during his career at Black Leopards, instead "Mr Thidiela told me who to put in the team". Apart from that, he also alleged that he was scolded like a child in front of senior players.

In response to that, Thidiela described all allegations labelled against him, as a bunch of lies aimed at destabilising his club. The situation took an ugly turn when the reporter, Mr Phosa, was allegedly stopped by the club's security officers at the main entrance gate during the match against African Wanderers a fortnight ago.

According to him the officers told him that the managing director of the club has instructed them not to allow him to set his foot inside the stadium saying the right of admission was reserved.

Phosa told Mirror that he was allowed entrance after a chilling argument with the security officers. Another dramatic moment was when a group of fans displayed the anti-Phosa and Kick-off magazine placards during half time.

As if that was not enough to warn both Phosa and his employer, Kick-off magazine, a similar situation prevailed during Leopards' match against Manning Rangers last Saturday, this time in full view of a reporter of Mirror. After being denied admission at the main entrance gate, Phosa went to the other gate where he managed to gain entrance.

He was again stopped by angry security officers at the small gate leading to the grand stand. After a lengthy argument with the officers at the small gate, Phosa finally realised that he was chasing a wild goose and decided to go and sit somewhere on the stand that was mostly occupied by drunkards.

Another group of fans displayed similar placards during interval. When asked how he feels after those incidents, Phosa stated that nothing would stop him from doing his "beloved" job. The Public Relations Officer of the club, Mr Tshifhiwa Thidiela, stated that the security officers were acting on their own and not on behalf of the club.

He reiterated that despite Phosa's claims that he phoned the Managing Director of the club, Mr David Thidiela notifying him about the security officers' attitude towards him. Thidiela (David) denied that as well.