South African lower-tier club, Black Leopards began the 2025/26 football campaign on a weird note, with only ten players featuring in their opening game against Casric Stars.
Football is usually played with 11 men on the field especially from the blast of the referee’s first whistle.
It is only when a player is sent off for a red card offence or gets injured at a time his side has exhausted their substitution that they play with less than 11 men.
At the weekend, Black Leopards locked horns with Casric Stars in their first Motsepe Foundation Championship, unfortunately, the club had to play with only ten players throughout the game due to FIFA ban.
Black Leopards had to use captain and defender of the club Tendo Mukumela as a goalkeeper after failing to register new players ahead of their season opener due to a FIFA-imposed transfer ban stemming from unresolved issues with All Stars FC.
The club suffered a 3-0 defeat to Casric Stars at the Thohoyandou Stadium on Saturday afternoon. Kick-off for the match was subsequently delayed by an hour after deliberations between match officials and the two clubs.
Despite the recent signing of three goalkeepers, including Namibian international Lloyd Kazapua, the club had no recognized goalkeeper on the day.
