Black Leopards set to announce club’s future after relegation

Black Leopards will hold a major press conference on Thursday to outline the club’s future after their relegation at the end of last season, with chairman Chief Thidiela warning supporters that the announcement will contain both positive and difficult news.

Thidiela gave no further details but confirmed that the club’s plans would be discussed publicly, as uncertainty continues to surround Lidoda Duvha following their unsuccessful attempts to overturn their relegation through the courts.

“Tomorrow, we will hold a major press conference to discuss the future direction of the club. The announcement will include both good news and bad news,” Thidiela told KickOff on Wednesday.

The Limpopo club’s relegation has been the subject of ongoing speculation since their management rejected the decision and began a legal challenge. Black Leopards argued that four matches played at the beginning of the 2025/2026 season should be replayed.

Their case was based on the belief that the PSL had acted incorrectly by imposing a ban before FIFA became involved. However, the SAFA tribunal rejected the club’s argument.

Black Leopards then pursued the matter further by applying to the Johannesburg High Court for urgent relief. That application was also dismissed, leaving the club unable to overturn its relegation through legal proceedings.

The legal dispute has added to uncertainty over the club’s status and future direction, with supporters now awaiting clarity from Thursday’s press conference.

Lidoda Duvha fans had expected Black Leopards to retain their professional status, in part because the club had previously returned to the second tier by acquiring the status of Cape Town All Stars in June 2023.

That move came after Black Leopards finished bottom of the Motsepe Foundation Championship standings during the 2022/23 campaign. The club’s purchase of Cape Town All Stars’ status allowed them to regain a place in the second tier despite that disappointing league finish.

The forthcoming announcement is therefore expected to address more than the outcome of the relegation dispute. It will also provide an indication of how Black Leopards intend to operate after their unsuccessful legal challenge and whether any changes are planned for the club’s future.

While the chairman has described the news as a mixture of “good news and bad news”, supporters have not been told which aspects of the announcement will be positive or challenging.

Black Leopards’ management has so far been unable to secure a reversal of the relegation through either the SAFA tribunal or the Johannesburg High Court. The club will now use Thursday’s media briefing to set out its next steps following the conclusion of those proceedings.