Next Wednesday, August 15, will see the Premier Soccer League teams playing their first league matches for the 2007/8 season. The good news about the local lads, Black Leopards, is that their opening league match will be played in front of their home crowd.

Lidoda Duvha will host Supersport United at the Giyani Stadium, starting at 19:30. The match was originally scheduled for the Thohoyandou Stadium before the decision to move it to the Giyani Stadium was reached last Friday. Thohoyandou Stadium is currently being refurbished.

Judging from their performance in their recent matches, it is evident that no team will register an easy victory against Leopards. The Thohoyandou outfit had proved it beyond any doubt that they are ready for the new season heat when they beat Kaizer Chiefs 5-4 at the Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane three weeks ago to lift up the Limpopo Challenge trophy.

Leopards went on to beat Jomo Cosmos 2-1 in their semifinal match for the Mopani District Municipality Executive Mayor’s charity cup match that was played at the Giyani Stadium last Sunday. They were beaten with the same margin by Supersport United in the final for the tournament later that afternoon.

Leopards have strengthened their squad, signing four seasoned players two weeks ago. They recalled three of their former players, Sibusiso Dlamini, Mulondo Sikhwivhilu and Collins Chabalala from Moroka Swallows and Orlando Pirates respectively.

Dlamini and Sikhwivhilu were put to the test last weekend and their combination impressed the technical staff.

At the same time Golden Arrows will play against Platinum Stars at the King Zwelithini Stadium in Durban. Bloemfontein Celtic and Ajax Cape Town will meet at the Seisa Rababodu Stadium in Bloemfontein.

Benoni Premier United and Kaizer Chiefs will battle it out at the Germiston Stadium. The other matches that will be played on the same evening are Orlando Pirates vs Moroka Swallows, Mamelodi Sundowns vs Amazulu and Santos vs Free State Stars