AKALILAHLILE ithemba ngokubuyela kuMaZulu uSandile "Mbaya" Khumalo (26) obolekiswe yileli qembu kwiBlack Leopards eyibamba kwiMotsepe Foundation Championship.
Lesi sitobha saseMkhazane, Olundi, sifike oSuthwini ngo-2017 sizodlala kwiDStv Diski Challenge (DDC) ngaphansi komqeqeshi uRonnie Moroka. Sanyuselwe eqenjini elikhulu ngesizini ka-2019/20 ngesikhathi izintambo zisaphethwe umqeqeshi uCavin Johnson.
Asizange silithole ithuba elanele lokudlala. Isizini eyaba ngcono ngeka-2021/22 esadlale kuyo ewu-17. Kweka-2023/24 sidlale owodwa kuphela ngaphansi kukaPablo "Cijimpi" Martin waseSpain okhonjwe indlela ngenxa yokuphikwa imiphumela.
Isiyonke imidlalo edlalwe nguKhumalo kuMaZulu iwu-31. Ushaye igoli lilodwa. Ubolekiswe kwiLeopards kuze isizini ephezulu. Le nsizwa ayikufihlanga ukuthi kwayiphatha kabi ukubolekiswa kwiLeopards.
"Ngeke ngiqambe amanga, ngaphatheka kabi kakhulu. OSuthwini bese kufana nasekhaya. Bengisafuna ukulwela indawo yami. Akusenani, impilo yebhola injalo. Okwami wukusebenza kanzima," kubeka uKhumalo.
NakwiLidoda Duvha izinto azikahambi kahle kule nsizwa. Isadlale owodwa beshaywa yiJDR Stars ngo-3-0. ILeopards ilele endaweni yesine ngamaphuzu awu-18, emidlalweni eyishumi.
UKhumalo uthe uyazi ukuthi liyeza elakhe ithuba.
"Naso lesi simo sokungadlali kwiLeopards asehli kahle. Okungibambezele wukuthi ngifike abaqeqeshi sebewenzile amalungiselelo ale sizini. Mina ngiwenze naMaZulu. Sizofika isikhathi sami sokudlala. Inhloso yami wukubuyela kuMaZulu ngesizini ezayo."
Namuhla iLeopards izobhekana ne-Upington City ngo-3.30 ntambama eThohoyandou Stadium. UKhumalo uthe okuhle ukuthi bathole isikhathi esanele sokulungiselela lo mdlalo. Uveze ukuthi unethemba lokuthi uzodlala baphinde banqobe.
Ihlelwe kanjena kule mpelasonto eyeChampionship:
NgoMgqibelo - Ngo-3.30pm: Casric v Callies (Solomon Mahlangu); JDR v Venda (Soshanguve Giant); Leopards v Upington (Thohoyandou); Lions v Milford (Suzuki).
NgeSonto - Ngo-3.30pm: Leruma v Highbury (Lucas Masterpiece Moripe); Orbit v D/City (Olympia Park); Kruger v Tuks (KaNyamazane).