Black Leopards F.C.

History

The club was founded in 1983 by business people in the Vhembe Region. In 1998 the club was taken over by the Thidiela family. After just two seasons of campaigning in the National First Division, Black Leopards was promoted to the 2001–02 South African Premiership.

In 2008, the club was relegated back to the National First Division after playing for seven seasons in the Premiership, but made its return to the top tier three years later.

Following their 16th place finish in the 2022–23 season, the club was due to be relegated. However, Leopards purchased the status from All Stars to remain in the division.

Following a dispute with a former All Stars player, FIFA imposed a transfer ban on the club at the end of the 2024–25 season. This resulted in the club having only ten players available for the first game of the 2025–26 season, a 3–0 loss to Casric Stars. The club was cleared to utilise its new players in October 2025, prior to the fifth game of the season.

Honours

• First Division Inland Stream: 1 ::2000-01

• National First Division promotion/relegation playoffs: 2 ::2010–11

::2017–18

Club records

• Most starts: South Africa Christopher Netshidzivhe 163
• Most goals: South Africa Mulondo Sikhwivhilu 44
• Most capped player: Malawi Robert Ng'ambi
• Most starts in a season: South Africa Nkosiyabo Xakane 36 (2011–12)
• Most goals in a season: South Africa David Zulu 16 (2013–14)
• Record victory: 7–1 vs Bush Bucks (13/4/02), (PSL)
• Record defeat: 0–5 vs Kaizer Chiefs (9/9/03), (PSL)

League record

Premiership

• 2001–02 – 8th
• 2002–03 – 11th
• 2003–04 – 8th
• 2004–05 – 14th
• 2005–06 – 12th
• 2006–07 – 11th
• 2007–08 – 15th (relegated)

National First Division

• 2008–09 – 6th (Inland Stream)
• 2009–19 – 1st (Inland Stream)
• 2010–11 – 2nd (Inland Stream, promoted)

Premiership

• 2011–12 – 14th
• 2012–13 – 16th (relegated)
• 2018–19 – 13th
• 2019–20 – 15th
• 2020–21 – 16th (relegated)

National First Division

• 2021–22 – 9th
• 2022–23 – 16th (relegated, purchased status to remain)
• 2023–24 – 10th
• 2024–25 – 4th

Club officials/Technical team

Notable coaches

• South Africa Milo Bjelica (1999)
• Zambia Jacob Sakala
• Zambia Jan Simulambo (2000)
• South Africa Gavin Hunt (July 2001 – 2 June)
• Mozambique Arnaldo Salvado (2002)
• Austria Walter Rautmann (2003)
• South Africa Ephraim Mashaba (Feb 2004 – 5 March)
• France Jean-Yves Kerjean (2005)
• South Africa Boebie Solomons (April 2006 – 8 March)
• Democratic Republic of Congo Bibey Mutombo (July 2006 – 6 Oct)
• South Africa Mlungisi Ngubane (Nov 2006 – 7 Jan)
• Germany Hans-Dieter Schmidt (Jan 2007 – 7 June)
• South Africa Joel Masutha (interim) (March 2008)
• Nigeria Augustine Eguavoen (March 2008)
• Zimbabwe Sheppard Murape (March 2008 – 8 June)
• South Africa Joel Masutha (June 2008 – 9 June)
• Romania Mario Marinica (June 2009 – 10 June)
• Serbia Vladislav Heric (2009–10)
• Zimbabwe Sunday Chidzambwa (Oct 2010 – 11 Oct)
• Serbia Vladislav Heric (Oct 2011 – 12 May)
• Zimbabwe Sunday Chidzambwa (May 2012 – 12 Oct)
• South Africa Ian Palmer (Oct 2012 – 12 Dec)
• South Africa Abel Makhubela (interim) (Jan 2013–)
• Serbia Kostadin Papic ( August 2013 – May 2014)
• South Africa Zeca Marques (June 2014–20xx)
• Belgium Jean-Francois Losciuto (−2017)
• Belgium Ivan Minnaert (2017)
• South Africa Cavin Johnson (2019–2020)
• South Africa Alan Clark
• Ghana Maxwell Konadu (2024–2025)
• South Africa Mabhuti Khenyeza (2025–)

References

References

1. "Thohoyandou Stadium".
2. "Black Leopards FC | Lidoda Duvha".
3. Munyai, Ofhani. (2025-08-25). "'I am sorry' - David Thidiela apologises over player shortage drama".
4. Munyai, Ofhani. (October 4, 2025). "New signings that are cleared to play for Black Leopards".
5. Makhaya, Ernest. (2023-05-10). "Black Leopards buy Motsepe Foundation Championship status!".
6. Munyai, Ofhani. (2024-07-02). "Black Leopards appoint Ghanaian coach ahead of new season".
7. Rabothe, Tshepo. (November 11, 2025). "DONE DEAL: Mabhuti Khenyeza lands new coaching job".