Staff Reporter.
Black Leopards are back in the Premier Soccer League (PSL) after buying the status of All Stars Football Club.
Leopards were relegated from the Motsepe Foundation Championship, which would’ve seen them play outside the professional ranks for the first time in the PSL era.
Addressing journalists in Polokwane to make the announcement, the Thidiela’s firstborn and eldest son, Tshifhiwa “Chief” Thidiela, said the club was now under the ownership of him and his brothers Tendani and Fulufhelo.
“They are also involved in various capacities within the club,” Tshifhiwa said.
It is the Thidiela sons who have purchased the new status. We have agreed to buy the status of All Stars. We have also managed to get permission to change the name to use Black Leopards.
“Obviously, we had to go and negotiate with the old Black Leopards to get the rights to use their signage, names, and emblem. From now on, we will still operate in a confusing way as All Stars (until all the paperwork is sorted).”
He said that they decided that their father, David, who took over complete control of the club 25 years ago, serves as an honorary president and adviser.
Leopards was founded in 1983 by businesspeople in the Vhembe region. The Thidiela family took over in 1998 and after just two seasons of campaigning in the NFD, the club famously known as Lidoda Duvha (The day will come) was promoted to the Premiership in 2000.
Compiled by Lehlohonolo Lehana.