As part of their mission to strengthen all departments of their team, Black Leopards have acquired the services of their former assistant coach, Mr Joel Masutha. According to the team’s chairman, Mr David Thidiela, the deal that will see Masutha stay with the club for two seasons was signed and sealed last Tuesday. Masutha and Mr Nilos Buljic of Serbia will serve as assistants to the head coach, Mr Kostadin Papic.

Papic was appointed the team’s head coach early last month. According to Thidiela, the head coach was given the mandate to appoint his own assistant.

“It was Papic who recommended the appointment of Mr Nilos Buljic” said Thidiela. He further stated that, after recommending the appointment of Buljic, Papic indicated that he wanted another South African coach who was familiar with the club and that was when they decided on Masutha.

Masutha is familiar with the situation in Leopards’ camp. He played for the team as a goalkeeper in the nineties before Lidoda Duvha gained promotion to the Absa Premiership Division for the first time.

 After retiring as player, Masutha was appointed by the club as an assistant coach. He left the club in search of greener pastures and landed in the camp of the National First Division side, African Warriors. His relationship with the Free State side was cut short before the expiry of his contract.

He came back to Limpopo where he joined the then pride of Giyani, Dynamos FC, as head coach. He left Dynamos unceremoniously and joined Black Leopards where he was given the responsibility to coach their development side, Phungo All Stars, towards the end of last season.

As part of their preparations for a new life in the National First Division, Black Leopards were conducting trials for the new young players at the Polokwane Noordelikes Rugby Stadium over the past weekend.