Leopards to stay in SA
Black Leopards’ preparations for their 2012 Caf Confederation Cup clash with Motor Action have been dealt a blow after they shelved plans to tour Mozambique this week.
The club had hoped to stay in Maputo for around 10 days, training while in camp and taking on some local sides in training matches.
But the logistics for the trip proved impossible and they will now remain at their new base in Polokwane as they prepare for their bow in African club competition next month.
They are likely to feature in a four-team tournament involving fellow PSL side Mamelodi Sundowns at the Peter Mokaba Stadium on January 29, but there was some bad news there too.
Initially, Sundowns and the Zimbabwean duo of Dynamos and CAPS United had been lined up, but Dynamos have since pulled out, unhappy at the R100 000 Sundowns owner Patrice Motsepe had offered to cover their travel costs.
With Kaizer Chiefs now being lined-up in the field, that potentially robs Leopards of the chance to take on a Zimbabwean side in preparation for the Motor Action tie. Organisers are likely to separate Sundowns and Chiefs in the semifinals, which would mean Leopards playing one of the duo.
Only if they and CAPS United win through to the final will they get that opportunity to meet a side from north of the border.
Leopards host Motor Action in the first leg of their Caf Confederation Cup preliminary round tie on the weekend of February 18/19, before travelling to Zimbabwe a fortnight later.