The Limpopo-based club will participate in the professional ranks in the upcoming season after purchasing the status of one of the teams said to be struggling financially.
Leopards were shockingly relegated to SA’s third-tier league, the ABC Motsepe League after finishing at the foot of the Motsepe Championship Foundation in the just-ended season.
They were set to participate in the Limpopo ABC Motsepe League stream for the 2023/24 season. However, Leopards confirmed their return to the PSL in a press conference staged at Meropa Casino in Polokwane on Friday.
The fallen giants, Limpopo, bought the PSL status of All Stars, reportedly having financial issues.
In addition, Leopards also announced that they would be based in Polokwane and play their home games at Thohoyandou Stadium.
“We can confirm we will have Black Leopards participating in the Motsepe Foundation Championship, it will be participating as Black Leopards,” said chairman Tshifhiwa Thidiela
Permission to change the name
“It is the Thidiela sons, who went and purchased a new status, as speculated we did purchase the status of Cape Town All Stars. We’ve also managed to get permission to change the name to Black Leopards.
“Obviously we had to negotiate with the ‘old Black Leopards’ to get permission to get the rights to use their names and emblems.
“The process was only completed on Tuesday when we got authorisation from the Premier Soccer League. We’ve bought the status of All Stars and have received the go-ahead from the league to do the name change and continue using the Black Leopards’ badge and brand.
Black leopards a historic team
With Leopards being one of the oldest teams in SA with a rich history, Tshifhiwa Thidiela further explained the importance of reviving the club.
He said Leopards is more than just a football club but a brand that plays a big role in the SA economy.
“We’ve been deliberating what our next step is. As a family we know football does not make money, but the club has played a massive role in the Vhembe region and Limpopo. It has created jobs and had a great socio-economic impact,” he said.
OTHER SOCCER NEWS: Is this the season Kaizer Chiefs finally end their trophy drought?
“There is more impact that the team is able to do, if the team plays in the Premier Division, a little less in the second division, but definitely much less in the amateur ranks.
“We’ve been receiving a lot of pressure from the community and we all agree this is not an ordinary team.
“The question was do we find someone that can carry on with the legacy, or do we as a family continue? We came to the agreement that we as a family will continue to make a contribution to the community and found another status to still continue in professional football.”