Ex Black Leopards coach Joel masutha.
By: Refilwe Sebola
National First Division side Black Leopards have confirmed the departure of head coach Joel Masutha, with Mabudi Khanyeza stepping in as his replacement.
The Limpopo outfit has endured a tough start to the 2025/26 season, largely due to a FIFA-imposed temporary transfer ban stemming from an unpaid claim by a former All Stars FC player — the same club from which Leopards purchased their NFD status.
The ban left the Thohoyandou-based side with a depleted squad, forcing them to start the campaign on the back foot. As a result, the team dropped vital points in matches they might have otherwise won, especially following a promising finish last season.
Although the transfer ban was lifted in October, allowing the club to rebuild and strengthen its squad, the Leopards’ management still opted to part ways with Masutha — a decision that has raised eyebrows across the football fraternity.
“I don’t think it was about performance,” said a local soccer pundit who preferred to remain anonymous. “The coach did well last season, and this season everyone knows what the team went through. I think there’s something more to it that we’re not being told.”
Efforts to contact Masutha for comment were unsuccessful, as he could not be reached on his phone and did not respond to messages sent to him.
Leopards currently sit 14th on the Motsepe Foundation Championship log with 9 points from 10 matches, following their 1–0 defeat to Cape Town Spurs last weekend.
The team will now look to the newly appointed Khanyeza to spark a turnaround when they face arch-rivals Venda FC on Friday, 21 November.
Whether the change in leadership will bring back the glory days remains to be seen, but for many Leopards supporters, Masutha’s contribution to the club’s history will not be forgotten.