In a bid to strengthen their technical department, Black Leopards have acquired the services of the former Mpumalanga Black Aces and Winnerspark head coach, Mr Innocent Mayoyo.

According to the club’s brand manager, Tshifhiwa Thidiela, Mayoyo’s appointment came into effect on Monday last week.

Thidiela says that Mayoyo will work with the former Leopards player, Joel Masutha, as head coach. Masutha has been working as the team’s assistant coach since last season. At that stage, he was assisting the current technical director of Santos FC, Mr Boebie Solomons.

Solomons parted ways with Lidoda Duvha unceremoniously in the middle of last season, after the team’s string of poor results. He was replaced with the Zimbabwean-born Shepherd Murape, who unfortunately could not save the team from relegation.

The former Kaizer Chiefs and Mamelodi Sundowns coach, Mr Paul Dolezar, was appointed on a two-month contract to guide the team in their platinum play-off matches. Unfortunately, his presence did not bear the anticipated fruit as Leopards were finally relegated to the National First Division.

Masutha served as assistant coach during the time of Murape and Dolezar. The management of the team decided to give him full responsibility of the team early this season.

When asked whether Mayoyo’s appointment would ultimately give rise to Masutha’s dismissal, Thidiela said that they did not have any intention to retrench anybody. “The idea is to beef up the technical staff and not to fire anybody,” said Thidiela.

Thidiela further revealed that they had entered into a one-year contract with Mayoyo. In an interview, Mayoyo said that he was happy to be associated with Black Leopards.