“It’s the same for everybody down there, every point is important, our hope rests in God and we just take it game by game.
“It was important for us to win, especially against a team with us at the bottom. To move off the bottom of the log is one of the hardest things in football, you can ask any team that’s been at the bottom. It’s like the weight of all the teams is upon you, so it’s very hard,” he said.
Leopards are one of the clubs who've been a mainstay in the PSL era. Relegation to the third tier would be devastating to the province, according to Da Gama.
“I grew up in Limpopo, my parents live here, there’s no doubt in my mind that Black Leopards is by far the biggest team in Limpopo. And I think one of the biggest in SA.
“They have great followers and it would be sad for the team to go down but we are confident that with our faith and fighting spirit, we have a chance to remain in the professional ranks,” said the veteran coach.
NFD results:
Black Leopards 2 - 0 TTM; Uthongathi 1 - 1 Pretoria Caillies; Pretoria University 0 - 0 JDR Stars; All Stars 2 - 2 Magesi; Venda FA 1 - 1 Hungry Lions; Cape Town Spurs 2 - 0 Casric Stars; NB La Masia 1 - 2 Polokwane City; Platinum City Rovers 1 - 1 Baroka.
Victory lifts team from the bottom
Da Gama fears for Limpopo if Leopards fall
Image: Lefty Shivambu
Black Leopards coach Owen da Gama says it's important for the team to remain in the professional ranks as relegation will have a detrimental effect on the people of Limpopo.
With the four games remaining in the Motsepe Foundation Championship, Leopards find themselves precariously positioned at 15th place, even though they got some reprieve after their 2-0 win over TTM at the Thohoyandou Stadium. TTM dropped to last place.
The vital three points for Lidoda Duvha came via second-half goals from Tsepo Matsimbi and Douglas Mapfumo. Leopards are now six points behind 14th-placed Platinum Rovers.
The win over TTM has given Da Gama hope that they can survive the axe with 12 points on offer. “It gives us a fighting chance but we’ll take it one game at a time,” said Da Gama.
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“It’s the same for everybody down there, every point is important, our hope rests in God and we just take it game by game.
“It was important for us to win, especially against a team with us at the bottom. To move off the bottom of the log is one of the hardest things in football, you can ask any team that’s been at the bottom. It’s like the weight of all the teams is upon you, so it’s very hard,” he said.
Leopards are one of the clubs who've been a mainstay in the PSL era. Relegation to the third tier would be devastating to the province, according to Da Gama.
“I grew up in Limpopo, my parents live here, there’s no doubt in my mind that Black Leopards is by far the biggest team in Limpopo. And I think one of the biggest in SA.
“They have great followers and it would be sad for the team to go down but we are confident that with our faith and fighting spirit, we have a chance to remain in the professional ranks,” said the veteran coach.
NFD results:
Black Leopards 2 - 0 TTM; Uthongathi 1 - 1 Pretoria Caillies; Pretoria University 0 - 0 JDR Stars; All Stars 2 - 2 Magesi; Venda FA 1 - 1 Hungry Lions; Cape Town Spurs 2 - 0 Casric Stars; NB La Masia 1 - 2 Polokwane City; Platinum City Rovers 1 - 1 Baroka.
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