Black Leopards make major decision ahead of CAS verdict

Lidoda Duvha have been out of action since their relegation from the Motsepe Foundation Championship to the ABC Motsepe League last season, with their legal battle against the Premier Soccer League (PSL) continuing.

SAFA Limpopo has now officially left Leopards out of the 2026/27 ABC Motsepe League campaign, adding another complication to the club's ongoing fight.

Leopards are challenging their relegation, maintaining that the PSL acted unlawfully when it demoted the club after withholding its players' registration cards before FIFA had formally issued its ban.

Despite the uncertainty surrounding their future, Thidiela insists the Limpopo-based club will not interfere with the current football calendar while pursuing its case.

"We asked to focus on our case and not disrupt football. We are football people, and that is why we did not seek an interdict and allowed the Motsepe Foundation Championship to begin," Thidiela told KickOff.

The Leopards chairman explained that the club deliberately chose not to seek urgent legal intervention because it did not want its dispute to affect the progress of the season.

"We may be fighting for our rights, but at the end of the day, we are football people. We do not want to disrupt the football process, even though we still believe we have a strong case," he added.

Thidiela says Leopards will also respect the ongoing campaign even if the CAS decision arrives before the season concludes.

"We want to resolve our case before resuming football. If it is resolved only in the middle of the season, we will let the season proceed without us. Even if our case is resolved before the season ends, we will sit out this campaign," he said.

The chairman further stressed that the club is prepared to accept whatever decision CAS eventually makes.

"We will not disrupt football. If the ruling goes against us, we will accept relegation; if we win, we will accept that outcome as well."