National First Division (NFD) league log
By: Refilwe Sebola
This weekend’s National First Division (NFD) league encounter between Black Leopards and Baroka FC is set to be a thrilling contest.
Both teams share the same ambition—securing a spot in the promotional playoffs for the Premier Soccer League (PSL).
Currently, the two Limpopo-based clubs are positioned seventh and eighth on the league table, with just two points separating them. In an interesting twist, both teams recently made coaching changes in a bid to boost their promotion hopes.
Baroka, sitting in eighth place, have reappointed their former coach, Dan Malesela, to take charge of the team. Malesela replaces caretaker coach Amukelani Hlungwani, who stepped in following the resignation of Joel Masutha. Meanwhile, seventh-placed Black Leopards have promoted Masutha from assistant coach to head coach, replacing Zeca Marques, who also resigned.
Matches between these two rivals are known for their intensity and are rarely goalless. In the first-round fixture, Baroka, then coached by Masutha, secured an emphatic 4-2 victory over Leopards at home in Seleteng. Now, Masutha finds himself on the opposite bench, hoping to turn the tables for Leopards.
However, Baroka under Malesela are expected to put up a strong fight, and playing at home in Thohoyandou Stadium, they will be aiming for a crucial victory. With both teams needing to win at least six or seven of their remaining eight matches to keep their promotion dreams alive, a draw is simply not an option.
Leopards currently trail the second, third, and fourth-placed teams by just five points, while Baroka are seven points adrift. Given what’s at stake, fans can expect an exciting and fiercely contested match.
Kickoff is at 15:00.