Thidiela upbeat on Leopards' progress
Black Leopards coach Vladislav Heric's departure will not be a factor in the team's Caf Confederation Cup fixture against Warri Wolves in Polokwane on Sunday, said chairman David Thidiela.
Current technical advisor Sunday Chidzambwa will again be in charge, and will stay at the helm until the end of the season.
The Zimbabwean sat on the bench in their 0-0 midweek league draw against Wits, hours after Heric's resignation.
"Chidzambwa was in charge in Nigeria (the first leg played a fortnight ago), so where are the changes?" asked Thidiela on Friday.
Thidiela, though, remained bitter on how Heric – who had not travelled with the side in earlier African commitments because of yellow fever needle allergies – ended his six-month tenure.
Ironically, the Serb had replaced Chidzambwa, who was redeployed after a string of poor results last October.
"Don't forget that 95 percent of this team was brought together by Chidzambwa," Thidiela said.
"He got us promoted to the Premiership, remember?
"This bastard (Heric) came in, and what did he do? Nothing."
Leopards, who are also battling relegation in the top league, have a 3-1 deficit from the match in Warri, Nigeria, last month.
The Limpopo outfit will progress through to the next stage if they can achieve a 2-0 victory over the West Africans, who have not won a game on their travels so far in the competition.
Chidzambwa was upbeat about the side's fairytale run in their first continental competition.
"The preparations are going well and we have one more session on Saturday," he said.
"Obviously, we want to overturn the score but, in football, it's mind over matter.
"We will look to play an attacking formation from the start until the final whistle."
There are some injury concerns in the squad, however, and they will have to make do without reliable Ugandan goalkeeper Postnett Omony.
In his place, the erratic Azwindini Maphaha will have to be at his steady best behind the back four.
"Postnett is out but Maphaha didn't do that badly against Wits," said Chidzambwa.
"We still have to worry about the captain (Mongezi) Bobe and Tiyani Mabunda.
"We might have to replace them ahead of the game."
