The much-traveled former Black Leopards coach, Mr Shepherd Murape, is the new coach of the Vodacom Promotional League side, Masemola Diarora.

His appointment to the hot seat came into effect on Monday this week.

According to the team’s general manager, Mr Elvis Booi, the Zimbabwean-born coach has been offered a one-year contract. Mr Murape has confirmed this, saying the contract has a clause which allows him to terminate it if he gets an offer from an Absa Premiership side.

Murape refused to commit himself when asked whether it would be possible for him to take the team to the National First Division, come the end of the season, saying his aim was to unearth and develop young talent. He revealed that he had been training the team for four days before signing the contract on Monday.

Murape joined Black Leopards towards the end of last season. He failed to save Leopards from relegation as Lidoda Duvha took part in the platinum play-off matches in which they could not make the grade. Murape parted ways with Leopards after their last league match against Kaizer Chiefs.

Murape replaces the former Black Leopards’ player, Moses Muthelo, who has been in the hot seat of Diarora for the past four weeks. Muthelo was on the team’s technical bench when Diarora played to a 2-2 draw with Z Mathothe Elephants in their league match which was played at the Makwarela Stadium last Saturday.