The million dollar question in the Black Leopards’ camp now is whether their new head coach, Mr Shepherd Murape, will produce the miracle to save the team from the jaws of relegation at the end of the season. Murape was appointed the team’s head coach last week.

His appointment comes after Lidoda Duvha parted ways with their former coach, Boebie Solomons. Solomons was suspended and ultimately dismissed, following a string of poor results by the team. Leopards had lost six matches in a row at the time of Solomons’ dismissal.

The former Nigerian National team coach, Mr Augustine Equavoen, took over from Solomons. Equavoen was on the bench when Leopards lost 0-3 to Mamelodi Sundowns at the Thohoyandou Stadium three weeks ago. His only achievement with Leopards was his team’s 3-0 victory against Inspection FC.

It was shortly after their match against Inspection FC that Equavoen told the management of the team that he was relinquishing his duties as the team’s head coach with immediate effect. He cited the players’ poor level of fitness as one of his reasons to resign.

Equavoen also stated that the team was not balanced and that it would be impossible for him to save the team from relegation under the current circumstances. Murape, who was the Namibian national team’s coach for the past three years, guided Leopards to a 2-0 victory over Matatiele Professionals in their Nedbank Cup competition match that was played at the Thohoyandou Stadium last Saturday.

During an interview with Mirror shortly after their victory last Saturday over Matatiele Professionals, Murape said that although it would not be easy for him, he would turn around Leopards’s fortunes. The Leopards’ brand manager, Tshifhiwa Thidiela, confirmed Murape’s appointment but he would not be drawn into commenting about further particulars of Murape’s appointment.