South Africa’s Black Leopards courts Bulawayo PSL quartet

SOUTH Africa’s First Division One outfit has written a letter courting Bulawayo-based Castle Lager Premier Soccer League (PSL) outfits, Highlanders, Chicken In, Bulawayo Chiefs and Arenel Movers for a series of international friendly matches that they intend to play in the first two weeks of next month in Zimbabwe, Zimpapers Sports Hub can reveal.

In a letter dated July 15 written by Black Leopards chairman Tshifhiwa Thidiela and addressed to all the four clubs, Lidhodha Dhuva, as Leopards are affectionately known, said they want to play against the local teams as part of their preperations for the upcoming season.

“As you are aware, we are currently in our pre-season here in South Africa and as part of our preparations for the upcoming soccer season, we would like to visit our neighbouring Zimbabwe and play some matches with yourselves.
“The plan is to come and play during the first two weeks of August 2024. We are flexible and willing to cover our own transport costs.

However, we would request assistance with meals and accommodation with the hope that during the matches your teams may keep 100 percent of the gate takings from the matches,” wrote Thidiela. He said his club was aware that the local soccer season is still on and it will not be possible to play the matches over the weekend.

“We are therefore requesting that you suggest suitable days that we may be able to play”.”As previously mentioned, we are flexible, so may you also suggest arrangements that could be possible and beneficial to all parties. We could also look forward to the possibility of return matches here in South Africa for your pre-season or whenever possible.

This presents a good opportunity for all of us to forge relations and to be able to also make it easier for player movement between our clubs and our countries,” said Thidiela. Highlanders chief executive officer Sihlangu Dlodlo acknowledged receiving the letter from Black Leopards saying while they are willing to play Black Leopards they are yet to make a formal request to Zimbabwe Football Association (Zifa) and PSL.

“Yes, Black Leopards have written to us requesting to play a friendly match against us. We are willing to play them but that will depend upon what Zifa and PSL will say. We only got this letter yesterday (Tuesday) and as such we are yet to approach Zifa and PSL,” said Dlodlo.

Chicken Inn secretary-general Tavengwa Hara also said they received the letter and they are yet to deliberate on it as the Gamecocks executive. Bulawayo Chiefs secretary-general Awakhiwe Nyoni confirmed that they had also received the invitation letter.

“It’s true that we received the letter from Black Leopards. It’s a great initiative. However, we are yet to sit down and deliberate on it as a club. As soon as we do that after being guided by the custodians of local football, we will respond to Black Leopard accordingly,” said Nyoni.

Arenel Movers administrator Juma Phiri’s mobile phone was continuously not reachable for a comment. -@FungaiMuderere