After weeks of speculation, Black Leopards are now sure they will take part in the Platinum promotional play-offs early next month. This follows their boardroom victory in the fight to get their expunged three league points back.

Their appeal case was heard by the SAFA Appeal Board on Tuesday evening.

The case relates to an incident that took place in the Leopards’ match against Batau FC, which was played at the SJ Swanepoel Stadium in Mpumalanga on Sunday, March 6. Batau lodged a protest with the referee before the game started, saying one of the Leopards players, Edgar Manaka, was not properly registered with the team. Lidoda Duvha won the match 2-1.

During its sitting late last month, the Premier Soccer League disciplinary committee found Leopards guilty as charged. As part of the sentence, the three points gained in the match in question were expunged. Black Leopards were ordered to bear the costs of all the sittings in respect of this matter.

The expunction for the points meant that Leopards had finished their league programme in the third spot with 35 points, two behind University of Pretoria FC. The appeal board ruled in favour of Lidoda Duvha. This implies that Leopards will now participate in the promotional play-offs as they are now back in the second spot on the log.

Leopards were always adamant that they would get their three points back, saying they had nothing to fear as they had followed all the processes when registering Manaka.

In an interview shortly after the appeal board ruling on Tuesday evening, the general manager of the team, Mr Sam Khaphathe, said they were already prepared for the promotional play-offs as they were sure the appeal board would rule in their favour.

Leopards will play the Absa Premiership League team that will finish the league programme in the 15th spot on the log, Moroka Swallows or Maritzburg United, in the first-round matches of the play-offs.

The latest development will add more joy to the Leopards’ fans as they are still celebrating their team’s 5-3 victory over Baroka FC in their Nedbank semifinal match that was played at the Peter Mokaba Stadium last Sunday. Leopards will meet Orlando Pirates in the final of the competition at the Mbombela Stadium in Mpumalanga next Saturday, May 28.