Publications
Partners
Polokwane City and Black Leopards might be sitting on opposite ends of the Absa Premiership table, but the two Limpopo rivals actually have a lot in common.
The teams are based in the suburb of Ladanna in Polokwane, where their training grounds are separated only by a car park.
They also hold the distinction of being among only three elite clubs to have won both the monthly premiership player and coach awards so far this campaign.
This after Leopards coach Dylan Kerr and his star striker Musonda Mwape claimed the honours in January, three months after City’s Jozef Vukušic and Jabulani Maluleke took the accolades in October.
Kaizer Chiefs’ now axed coach Giovanni Solinas and Khama Billiat were the winners in September.
However, Kerr alluded to these awards proving to be something of a poisoned chalice, as league wins became difficult to come by for the two Limpopo powerhouses after these accolades.
Leopards went four games without a win, while it took City three to get back to winning ways.
It was the back-to-back 3-0 losses to Bloemfontein Celtic and Mamelodi Sundowns that wrecked Leopards’ season, a setback that saw them drop from ninth to 14th place on the log.
Since then, Kerr’s side has been flirting with relegation as they have been stuck in 12th spot.
In contrast, Vukušic and his team recovered well and were third on the log at one stage.
The draws with identical 1-1 margins against Sundowns and Kaizer Chiefs in February proved valuable as Rise and Shine maintained their place in the top-eight bracket.
“It’s a fantastic award when you’re voted for by your peers, but I know from history that it’s a poisoned chalice,” said Kerr in jest.
On a serious note, the Englishman said the fact that Leopards have two games in hand does not guarantee them an advantage over other sides that are in the bottom segment of the log.
“We are the pride of Limpopo. We have five games in 20 days against teams that are trying to win the league and those who are trying to get away from the bottom,” said the 52-year-old, who replaced Joel Masutha at Lidoda Duvha in November.
After the derby this afternoon, Leopards will meet Orlando Pirates in Soweto on Wednesday and host Chiefs three days later.
“My experience of African football is that players get offered cash incentives to save clubs. Our motivation is not money, but to stay in the PSL,” said Kerr.
His City counterpart Vukušic (54) said: “We know each other, but, in the end, players will put up a big fight on the field.
“This will be a special game for the fans. The results have been generally good for us and our target is a top-eight finish.”
Kerr said he expected Musonda – the league’s top scorer with 12 goals – to continue with his scoring exploits, while the seasoned Maluleke (37) is expected to dictate terms for City as they bid to avenge the 1-0 defeat they suffered in the first-round meeting in August.
