THOHOYANDOU – Black Leopards have proved beyond a reasonable doubt that they could be campaigning in the same division next season, when they clobbered Ajax Cape Town 3-0 in a Castle Premiership League match played at the Thohoyandou Stadium last Friday.

Leopards were strong in the middle of the park and never gave their opponents any chance to do their tricks. Ajax was reduced to ten men in the 20th minute. Their left back, Anthon Baffoe was given marching orders following a dangerous tackle on Japhta Mabosho.

Baffoe was first warned cautioned six minutes before the tackle on Mabosho. His first offence was an obstruction on Leopards' Swaziland international, Sbusiso Dlamini. The scoreboard was still blank at halftime, despite the fact that Ajax was always running for cover during the first 45 minutes.

Sbusiso Dlamini sustained a serious injury to the head when he collided with Nathan Paulse. He was later replaced with Dingaan Masanabo. Leopards effected another change when they replaced Japhta Mabosho with Mangoba Mkhize in the 50th minute.

Leopards opened their account in the 58th minute, when Dingaan Masanabo hooked in the ball after a corner kick taken by Wonder Nhleko. Masanabo went loose a little later and saw his volley going astray.

Mulondi Sikhwivhilu and Wonder Nhleko initiated a move in the middle of the park and the ball ended behind the net when Nhleko beat the keeper. The Thohoyandou outfit later replaced Matari Netshidzivhe with Richard Lishivha. Ajax responded by introducing Mfundo Mathonsi for Nathan Paulse in the 75th minute.

Dingaan Masanabo scored Leopards' third goal after receiving a neat pass from Richard Lishivha three minutes before full time.