Makhubele gets Leopards job
Black Leopards have appointed assistant coach Abel Makhubele as care-taker coach until the end of the season, the club announced on Thursday.
The Premiership strugglers took the decision to promote Makhubele, after coach Ian Palmer was sacked on January 1, following a string of poor results.
According to a statement released by the club, Makhubele was the obvious choice for the role.
"Makhubele has been at the club for two seasons, and has proved to be a diligent, consistent and trustworthy team member," the statement said.
"Hence, it was not a very difficult decision for management to appoint him to the position."
Makhubele coached Mbokoto FC – an amateur team promoted to the Castle League – from 1995-2003, as well as the Limpopo provincial under-17 and Metropolitan under-19 team who won the National trophy in Durban where he was voted the Best Coach of the tournament.
Makhubele was a SA Football Association (Safa) coaching instructor, which led him to join Black Leopards as assistant coach in 2011.
Leopards – under Palmer – slumped to 12th in the Premiership standings, with 17 points from their 16 fixtures, claiming three victories, eight draws and six losses.
Makhubele's first game in charge of Lidoda Duvha is against Bidvest Wits on February 13, when the league season continues after the Africa Cup of Nations tournament this month.
