Black Leopards have made it to the promotional play-offs, bringing to an end months of speculation if the team would qualify to partake in the tournament through which promotion to the Absa Premiership is determined.

Lidoda Duvha beat Jomo Cosmos 2-0 at the Makhulong Stadium in Thembisa last Sunday to finish their league programme in the second position on the log.

The teams that finished in the second and third position in the National First Division, together with the second-last team in the Absa Premiership Division, will battle it out for a place in the Absa Premiership. Black Leopards finished in second position, with Milano United in third. Milano, Leopards and Baroka FC finished their programme with 50 points each, but Baroka failed to make the grade on goal difference.

The opening match between Milano United and the second-last side in the Absa Premiership, Polokwane City, was played at the NNK Rugby Stadium in Cape Town on Wednesday. The result was not yet available at the time of our going to press.

Black Leopards will play their first match on Sunday.  They will host Milano United at the Giyani Stadium. Their second outing will be against Polokwane City at the Peter Mokaba Stadium next Wednesday, 21 May.

Wednesday, May 28, will see Lidoda Duvha fly to Cape Town, where they will lock horns with Milano United at the NNK Rugby Stadium. Their last fixture will be against Polokwane City at the Giyani Stadium on 1 June. The good news in the Leopards camp is that one of their killer strikers, Rendani Ndou, will be available for selection on Sunday. Ndou and  David Zulu missed their team’s previous two matches due to injuries.

According to the team’s assistant coach,  Mr Joel Masutha, Zulu is likely to be out of action for two months. Apart from the injured David Zulu, their Malawian international, Harry Nyirenda, will also watch the Sunday game from the grandstand. Nyirenda is still serving suspension after seeing red in their match against FC Cape Town three weeks ago.