Black Leopards Purchase Motsepe Foundation Championship Status After Relegation

• Black Leopards were relegated from the Motsepe Foundation Championship after finishing bottom of the league
• Lidoda Duvha have been in the top divisions of South African football for the past 22 years before the relegation
• Cape Town All Stars were sold and renamed to All Stars FC but have now sold their status to Black Leopards

Black Leopards’ relegation to the ABC Motsepe League has been short-lived.

Despite being relegated last season, the Limpopo-based side held a press conference in which they confirmed that they would be back in the national first division.

As noted by SABC News, Lidoda Duvha finished bottom of the Motsepe Foundation Championship (MFC) last season and were relegated to the amateur leagues.

Their relegation came after spending 22 years in the professional ranks of South African football. Their 22-year reign is set to continue, though, as the club have purchased the status of an MFC side.

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Sowetan LIVE reported that Leopards have decided to purchase the status of All Stars and have been permitted to continue using the Black Leopards name by the Premier Soccer League.

Who are All Stars

All Stars FC were an MFC side based in Johannesburg. Previously known as Cape Town All Stars, they were bought and relocated to Gauteng after failing to win promotion to the DStv Premiership.

They were then put up for sale once again after just one season, SABC Sport reported.

No easy return for Leopards

New Black Leopards chairman Tshifhiwa Thidiela explained that the decision to buy an MFC status was not an easy one, especially considering the high cost of running a club in South Africa.

“For us, as a family, it was deliberation and big arguments that, I think, went on for about two months,” he said.

“The decision we took was let's go and find another status that will allow Black Leopards to participate in professional football,” Tshifhiwa added.

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He continued that they must implement changes to the club, as the people and community rely on the side.

Cosmos relegated to amateur leagues

Black Leopards aren't the only former big-name side that were relegated to the ABC Motsepe League.

Jomo Sono's Jomo Cosmos were officially relegated from the professional football leagues at the end of the 2021/22 season, Sports Brief reported.

Ezenkosi have been competing in the professional leagues for 39 years and are one the staples of the South African soccer scene.