Black Leopards identifies Joel Masutha’s replacement

Limpopo club Black Leopards looks set to appoint Zimbabwean coach Rodwell Dhlakama to replace Joel Masutha.

The relationship between Leopards and Masutha is as good as done following the later suspension earlier this week.

Masutha was instructed to temporarily down tools alongside his assistant Morgan Shivambu and goalkeeper coach Sam Banda. This came after the shock 3-1 defeat by Motsepe Foundation Championship newcomers Casric Stars last weekend.

In a turn of events, Shivambu and Banda’s suspension was lifted, and the pair returned for training mid-week. Masutha remains suspended.

The former Leopards goalkeeper looks set to depart amid the imminent arrival of Dhlakama.

Who is Leopards’ new man Rodwell Dhlakama?

According to pindula.co.zw, the 48-year-old Dhlakama was recently attached to the Zimbabwean Premier Soccer League club ZPC Kariba. He is a holder of four levels of soccer coaching in Zimbabwe. He also did a FIFA Solidarity Course and holds an Olympic Committee Certificate for Football Coaches and British Eurospace Certificate for coaching.

Dhlakama’s playing career

His football playing career was cut short by an ankle injury when he was 20 years old but played for teams such as Tanganda and Zupco Mutare.

Coaching Career

According to the same source, Dhlakama took the Young Warriors to the Under 17 Africa Youth Championships in Algeria (2009). He also qualified for the group stages in the CAF Champions League as the head coach of the now defunct Monomotapa FC after eliminating giants such as ASEC Mimosas of Cote d’Ivoire, Ajax Cape Town (now Cape Town Spurs) and Simba FC of Tanzania.

Teams coached

Kiglon Monomotapa, Shooting Stars, CAPS United, Chapungu FC, Green Mambas (eSwatini), Manzini Sundowns (eSwatini) and Ngezi Platinum

Accolades

2019 Chibuku Super Cup Runners-Up medal

2008 Zimbabwe Premier Soccer League winner (With Monomotapa under Norman Mapeza)

Premiership promotion with Kwekwe Cables

Premiership promotion with Chrome Stars

Central Region Division One promotion with Zimasco United

Voted Coach of the Year at the Zimbabwe Annual National Sports Awards in 2007

Won gold at the Cosafa Under 17 tournament and the Anoca Zone Six Games in 2007.