Black Leopards assistant coach Abel Makhubela.
By: Refilwe Sebola
With just two games remaining, National First Division side Black Leopards are facing a high-pressure sprint to the finish line in their desperate attempt to secure a spot in the PSL promotional playoffs.
A painful 2-1 defeat to Casric Stars last weekend has left Lidoda Duvha in a precarious position, with no room for error.
The Leopards must now beat log leaders Durban City this Sunday and then follow up with a win against AmaTucks next weekend to collect the vital six points they need to stay in the playoff race. However, even if they manage to achieve that, their fate still depends on results elsewhere.
Their main obstacle remains Casric Stars, who handed them that crucial defeat and are now in a strong position. Casric will face another Venda-based team, Venda FC, away this Sunday and will conclude their season at home against Hungry Lions. Just one win from those two matches could keep them ahead of the Leopards—unless fortune favors the Limpopo side.
Complicating matters further is Kruger United, who are quietly lurking just behind with 44 points from 28 games. If they win both of their remaining fixtures, they could leapfrog both Leopards and Casric, snatching a playoff place at the last moment.
Interestingly, the real twist in the title race lies with Orbit College, who sit second on the table, just three points behind leaders Durban City. While the focus has been on the playoff chase, Orbit have been mounting a serious title challenge in the background. Should Durban City slip in their final matches—starting with this Sunday’s showdown against Black Leopards—Orbit could seize the championship at the last minute, transforming the promotion race into an outright battle for glory.
As the season approaches its thrilling conclusion, every match, goal, and point will count. For Black Leopards, the task is clear but daunting: win both games and hope that luck is on their side.
The fate of the playoffs—and potentially the championship—may come down to the final match day. For fans of the NFD, this season couldn’t be more dramatic.