Black Leopards crowned a successful season on Saturday, 18 June, when they beat Bay United from the Eastern Cape 2-0 at the Tshifulanani Stadium. With the victory, they were were promoted to the Premier Soccer League. Earlier this year, the team shocked the football fraternity when they qualified to play in the final of the coveted Nedbank Cup. Lidoda Duvha lost the final to this year´s best team in South Africa, Orlando Pirates.

A goal in each half gave Black Leopards a much needed 2-0 victory in their National First Division Promotional play-off.

Realizing that the Leopards’ dribbling wizard, Khethowakhe Masuku, was a thorn in the flesh to the defence of United, the defenders of Bay tried to neutralize him by demonstrating their rough tackles. The referee, Daniel Bennet, normalised the situation by reprimanding Matsobane Mothapo with a card in the fifth minute.

It took Lidoda Duvha only ten minutes to open their account. Their diminutive midfielder, Raymond Monama, sent the United keeper, Modiri Marumo, the wrong way with a ground cutter.

The league’s top goal scorer, Rodney Ramagalela, soon realized that it was not his day. He suffered the pain of watching his header hit the crossbar and bounce back into play in the 19th minute. As if that was not enough to keep the fans unsettled, Ramagalela’s second attempt hit the crossbar again, almost in the same spot, and landed outside the field of play for a goal kick.

The keeper of Leopards, Azwinndini Maphaha, made his presence felt when he stretched to the limit to execute a brilliant save, following Klaas Galane’s bicycle kick in the 38th minute. United introduced the former Leopards bulldozer striker, Mulondo Sikhwivhilu, and sacrificed Matsobane Mothapo early in the last half.

Leopards lost their keeper, Azwinndini Maphaha, through an injury. He was replaced with Thabang Maluleke. The second goal of Leopards came via their captain, Mongezi Bobe, who headed home in the 55th minute. He caught the keeper off guard and scored easily.

Lidoda Duvha later replaced Dingaan Masanabo and Raymond Monama with Dingane Metsi and Edgar Manaka respectively.