NATIONAL First Division side Black Leopards have placed a number of key and experienced players on the transfer list.

Last week their influential midfielder Jabu Maluleke and attacker Thabo Mongalo joined Absa Premiership champs SuperSport United.

Leopards manager Sam Khapathe confirmed yesterday that they had put Peter Mponda, Robert Ng'ambi and the club's long-serving player Christopher Netshidzivhe on the market. His ten-year contract expired at the end of the season.

"We resolved to put those players on transfer in a bid to reduce our team from 32 to 25 players for the coming season.

"We are still negotiating with Netshidzivhe considering he served the club with commitment for a decade," said Khapathe yesterday.

Asked for comment, Netshidzivhe said he was still undecided about his next move although he still wanted to play for Leopards.

"I still have to weigh my options. For now I am relaxing at home and cannot comment further about this matter," he said.

Interest allegedly shown by Absa Premiership sides like Santos, Bloemfontein Celtic, SuperSports United and Platinum Stars, Netshidzivhe said none of those clubs had approach him formally.

Leopards survived relegation to the Vodacom League during their last two matches last season. Experts are divided on whether Leopards' latest move will help the club to return to the elite league or endure another season fighting relegation.