The Premier Soccer League returnees, Black Leopards FC have appointed former assistant manager of Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C, which plays in the Football League Championship in England as the club’s technical director.
The Italian tactician, Stefano Cusin has joined the club on a three-year contract.
Leopards General Manager Tshifhiwa Thidiela says the club’s preparations for the new season are going well and that they are not worried about the matter between Ajax Cape Town and PSL.
The Johannesburg High Court has recently overridden an earlier ruling that Ajax be demoted to the National First Division.
This is after the team was docked seven points from the games in which Tendai Ndoro had played after it was found that he went against FIFA rules and played for three clubs in one season.
Lidoda Duvha, as Black Leopards FC are fondly called by fans have appointed an Italian football coach Stefano Cusin to the position of technical director.
Coach Joel Masutha will be assisted by Morgan Shivambo. Cusin has been officially unveiled together with physical trainer, Sorini Juan Luka who is also an Italian, at a media briefing that was held in Polokwane.
Cusin who gained international prominence as coach in countries such as France, England and Bulgaria also coached various clubs in Africa that include Congo’s national team.
Leopards FC General Manager Tshifhiwa Thidiela says they want to build a strong team.
“There’s a case between Ajax Cape Town and the Premier League, we are Black Leopards we are nowhere involved in that, we want to build a strong team and we want to go and say let’s put ourselves as high as possible, to Stefano when he came we told him that we have got a head coach, he is not here to coach when they fail or anything goes wrong they will get fired together as a unity.”
Cusin says he has been following South African football because he has been working in Africa for five years.
“I used to work in Africa for five years so I know the league very well, so I know all the best teams in the country and facilities during the world cup and I have also started to study the players, coaches and how they play and I’m still studying the league.”
Masutha says he is expecting a good working relationship with the new technical director for the benefit of the club.
“ I joined the club in 1995 since then up to now I have worked with 30 technical directors and he will the 31st obviously I have a good relationship with all of them and I believe we are going to have a good working relationship for the benefit of everyone especially the club so I don’t see any problem.”
Leopards’ Captain Macks Munyai says they want to make sure that the team retains its PSL status.
“ The plan is still the same we are going there to compete if we fail as long as we are still there in the PSL, the important thing is to stay there we just have to continue where we left.”
The club has also unveiled five new players. They include former Kaizer Chiefs player Zwivhuya Matombo and Themba Ndlovu, Lefa Hlungwane and Alton Kaping from the NFD side, Tshakhuma Tsha Madzivhandila FC. Former Orlando Pirates player Ayanda Gcaba is also training with Leopards in a bid to join the club.
