SOUTH AFRICA – Black Leopards have already accepted their fate of starting life in the troubled National First Division (NFD).
Although Lidoda Duvha still have slim hopes of saving their PSL status via the promotion play-offs, their coach Sunday Chidzambwa admitted that it won’t be possible if they continue leaking goals.
Leopards have conceded nine goals in their last two league games and overall their vulnerable defence has conceded 60 goals in 29 matches. They were walloped 5-2 by Mamelodi Sundowns a fortnight ago and that was followed by a 4-1 defeat to Orlando Pirates on Wednesday.
His side go into their last Absa Premiership match against Free State Stars at Goble Park Stadium tomorrow knowing their survival is no longer in their own hands. Leopards will need to beat Stars and hope Chippa United lose against AmaZulu in Durban to avoid automatic relegation.
Said Chidzambwa: “I must admit we are playing so badly these days. We need to dig deep and try to rectify our defensive organisation. We’re conceding easy goals in each game we play. Until we get that right we won’t get anywhere and this means we will go down.”
However, Chidzambwa says his players won’t be sentenced to jail if Leopards get relegated. He explained: “I am not worried about getting relegated and if that happens so be it. It basically means we’re not up to standard in the PSL and we just have to admit.
“In football it’s normal if we get relegated and if we stay it will be a bonus. Relegation is not a sin or crime. I was watching Wigan relegated from the English Premier League with the FA Cup in their hands.
“If it happens we have to accept it, go to the First Division and regroup and play. Sometimes you have drought seasons in a country and this is our dry season in football. A team can go through a bad spell for a month, three months, a year or two seasons and we are also going through a rough patch.” Daily Sun
