Masutha hails Leopards players after March upturn | Breaking News

Black Leopards coach Joel Masutha has credited newly appointed technical director Phillimon ‘The Phil’ Makwengwe and the players for the upturn in results in recent weeks.

There is a glimmer of hope that Leopards may survive the chop after moving from the basement of the table to position 14. 

At the start of last month, the former Premiership side was 16^th before picking two wins and two draws in their previous four fixtures. 

Masutha has hailed the impact of Makwenge and the hard work put in by players. “We’ve worked well together [with Makwengwe], including the players. They’re working very hard hence the change in results in our favour,” Masutha told FARPost.

He added that their biggest challenge was creating chances and failing to convert, which has since improved. They scored seven goals in their last four fixtures. In February, they only managed one goal in three games.

“The most frustrating part was that we were creating chances but not scoring, and now we’re getting the points we needed. It will encourage the players to keep fighting,” he said.

Makwengwe joined the Limpopo side on a three-year deal early in March with his immediate task to save ‘Lidoda Duvha’ from relegation. The Fifa-trained coach educator plays a technical advisory support role, suggesting training methodology and match analysis at Leopards. He was one of the instructors during the Fifa Grassroots launch at the University of North West ahead of the 2010 World Cup. 

Makwengwe, who has previously worked for the Botswana Football Association [BFA], held a similar position at Orapa United, a Premiership side in his native country, before joining the Limpopo side.

Masutha is on record as saying his position was not under immediate threat following Makwengwe’s arrival. He said anyone coming to help the team was welcome.

Leopards play TS Sporting on Tuesday and will be hoping to continue from where they left off in March.

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