How administrative chaos and instability sealed Black Leopards’ relegation to South African third-tier

Black Leopards’ drop into the lower tier was confirmed on Sunday, as the Limpopo side became the second provincial club to be relegated from the Motsepe Foundation Championship following Baroka’s exit a week earlier.

Despite edging Venda 2-1 in their penultimate fixture at Thohoyandou Stadium, results elsewhere rendered their effort meaningless, exposing a season undermined by administrative setbacks, technical instability and inconsistent performances.

A major early blow came from a FIFA-related registration ban that crippled their squad depth at the start of the campaign.

Last August, Leopards were forced to field just 10 players with only one substitute available in their opening league match against Casric Stars at Thohoyandou Stadium.

The sanction stemmed from unpaid debts they said they “unknowingly” inherited from All Stars FC after acquiring MFC status in 2023.

The 3-0 defeat that followed saw captain Thendo Mukumela deployed as an emergency goalkeeper.

For the next four matches, the club struggled to meet Motsepe Foundation Championship Under-23 requirements, leaving them further weakened until FIFA later granted permission to register players.

Instability in the dugout deepened the crisis. The campaign began under Joel Masutha, who was replaced in November by Mabhuti Khenyeza. However, Khenyeza’s tenure lasted just 10 games before he was dismissed.

The coaching carousel continued with Duncan Lechesa and Sundra Govender stepping in as co-coaches, but the lack of continuity disrupted cohesion and tactical identity.

On the pitch, results at home proved equally damaging. Leopards managed only four wins from 14 home fixtures, repeatedly failing to convert home advantage into consistent points. That poor return left them vulnerable in a tightly contested relegation battle where margins were unforgiving.

The club has since approached arbitration, seeking a replay of four fixtures. They argue that the PSL should have waited for FIFA’s official ruling on the transfer ban before preventing player registrations, a stance they believe significantly influenced their season’s outcome.