Black Leopards FC is a South African football club based in

Thohoyandou Thohoyandou ( ve, Ṱhohoyanḓou) is a town in the Limpopo Province of South Africa. It is the administrative centre of Vhembe District Municipality and Thulamela Local Municipality. It is also known for being the former capital of the bantusta ...

, Vhembe Region,

Limpopo Limpopo is the northernmost province of South Africa. It is named after the Limpopo River, which forms the province's western and northern borders. The capital and largest city in the province is Polokwane, while the provincial legislature is ...

that plays in the

National First Division The National First Division (NFD), officially known as the Motsepe Foundation Championship for sponsorship reasons, is the second-highest league of South African club football after the South African Premier Division. Both the NFD and South Afr ...

History

The club was founded in 1983 by business people in the Vhembe Region. In 1998 the club was taken over by the Thidiela family. After just two seasons of campaigning in the

, Black Leopards FC was promoted to the ABSA Premier Soccer League. In 2008 they were relegated back to the

after playing for seven seasons in the Absa Premiership but the club made its return to the top tier division three years later.

Honours

*First Division Inland Stream: 1 ::2000-01 *National First Division promotion/relegation playoffs: 2 ::

2010–11 1 (one, unit, unity) is a number representing a single or the only entity. 1 is also a numerical digit and represents a single unit of counting or measurement. For example, a line segment of ''unit length'' is a line segment of length 1. ...

:: 2017–18

Club records

*Most starts: Christopher Netshidzivhe 163 *Most goals: Mulondo Sikhwivhilu 44 *Most capped player: Robert Ng'ambi *Most starts in a season: Nkosiyabo Xakane 36 (2011–12) *Most goals in a season: David Zulu 16 (2013–14) *Record victory: 7–1 vs Bush Bucks (13/4/02), (PSL) *Record defeat: 0–5 vs Kaizer Chiefs (9/9/03), (PSL)

Premier Soccer League record

* 2001–02 – 8th * 2002–03 – 11th * 2003–04 – 8th * 2004–05 – 14th * 2005–06 – 12th * 2006–07 – 11th * 2007–08 – 15th (relegated) * 2011–12 – 14th *

2012–13 1 (one, unit, unity) is a number representing a single or the only entity. 1 is also a numerical digit and represents a single unit of counting or measurement. For example, a line segment of ''unit length'' is a line segment of length 1. I ...

– 16th (relegated) * 2018–19 – 13th * 2019–20 – 15th * 2020–21 – 16th (relegated)

Club officials/Technical team

* Coach:

Morgan Shivambu Morgan may refer to: People and fictional characters * Morgan (given name), including a list of people and fictional characters * Morgan le Fay, a powerful witch in Arthurian legend * Morgan (surname), a surname of Welsh origin * Morgan (singer) ...

First team squad

Shirt sponsor and kit manufacturer

*Shirt sponsor: None *Kit manufacturer: Umbro

Notable former coaches

* Milo Bjelica (1999) * Jacob Sakala *

Jan Simulambo Jani Liabwa Simulambo (born 9 November 1953) is a former Zambian footballer and coach. Nicknamed ''Be Good,'' Simulambo had an outstanding career and played at the heart of Zambia’s midfield for close to ten years, representing the country at ...

(2000) * Gavin Hunt (July 2001 – 2 June) * Arnaldo Salvado (2002) *

Walter Rautmann Walter Rautmann (born 30 August 1945) is an Austrian retired football coach and player. He has coached Mpumalanga Black Aces F.C., Mpumalanga Black Aces, Dangerous Darkies, Real Rovers, Moroka Swallows F.C., Moroka Swallows, Rabali Blackpool,

(2003) *

Ephraim Mashaba Ephraim Mashaba (born 6 August 1950) is a South African former soccer player and manager. Career Mashaba managed Vaal Reef Stars until the club was relegated from the South African top-tier. He managed the South Africa national team, but w ...

(Feb 2004 – 5 March) * Jean-Yves Kerjean (2005) * Boebie Solomons (April 2006 – 8 March) * Bibey Mutombo (July 2006 – 6 Oct) * Mlungisi Ngubane (Nov 2006 – 7 Jan) *

Hans-Dieter Schmidt Hans-Dieter Schmidt (born 9 January 1948) is a former German football player turned manager. Playing career Schmidt's playing career – part of which he spent with Hannover 96 – ended early after a severe injury at the age of 23. Coaching ...

(Jan 2007 – 7 June) * Joel Masutha ''(interim)'' (March 2008) *

Augustine Eguavoen Augustine Owen Eguavoen (born 19 August 1965) is a Nigerian football manager and former player who thrice served as manager of the Nigeria national team. Playing career Club During his varied career Eguavoen began his career with ACB Lagos in ...

(March 2008) * Sheppard Murape (March 2008 – 8 June) * Joel Masutha (June 2008 – 9 June) * Mario Marinica (June 2009 – 10 June) * Vladislav Heric (2009–10) * Sunday Chidzambwa (Oct 2010 – 11 Oct) * Vladislav Heric (Oct 2011 – 12 May) * Sunday Chidzambwa (May 2012 – 12 Oct) * Ian Palmer (Oct 2012 – 12 Dec) * Abel Makhubela ''(interim)'' (Jan 2013–) * Kostadin Papic ( August 2013 – May 2014) * Zeca Marques (June 2014–20xx) * Jean-Francois Losciuto (−2017) * Ivan Minnaert (2017) * Cavin Johnson (2019–2020)

References

External links

* {{National First Division Association football clubs established in 1983 Premier Soccer League clubs Soccer clubs in Limpopo National First Division clubs 1983 establishments in South Africa Polokwane