Black Leopards relegation confirmed as Namibian duo Bethuel Muzeu and Loydt Kazapua drop from NFD
Black Leopards relegation was confirmed as the Motsepe Foundation Championship side were mathematically unable to avoid the drop, consigning Namibian internationals Bethuel Muzeu and Loydt Kazapua to the Safa ABC Motsepe League. The result leaves the Limpopo club with one fixture remaining and no route to the 32 points required to survive.
Relegation sealed despite late win
Black Leopards secured a 2-1 victory in their most recent match but were relegated because the point gap to safety could no longer be closed with one game to play. The club sits on 28 points and even if rivals falter, they cannot reach the minimum threshold needed to remain in the National First Division.
The outcome formalises a fall that has been unfolding all season and places Black Leopards alongside fellow relegated Limpopo side Baroka, who will also play next season in the Safa ABC Motsepe League. Club officials and supporters now face the immediate task of planning a response to life outside the NFD.
Bethuel Muzeu’s season and scoring record
Striker Bethuel Muzeu has been one of the side’s few consistent performers this campaign, finishing the season with eight league goals. Muzeu, 26, began the year in strong form and produced the bulk of his goals in the first half of the campaign before a second-half dip in productivity.
Those totals follow a productive recent run: Muzeu netted 12 goals in 2024 and 17 in 2025, and this season represents his fourth year at the club. Despite his personal numbers and sustained efforts on the pitch, he could not offset the collective problems that pushed the club into the relegation zone.
Loydt Kazapua’s arrival and playing time
Goalkeeper Loydt Kazapua arrived at Black Leopards on a free transfer at the start of the season, signing a two-year contract after leaving Sekhukhune United in the South African Premiership. At 37, Kazapua established himself as the first-choice keeper once administrative issues were resolved and featured regularly between the posts.
Kazapua’s game time came too late, however, to change the club’s fortunes: registration restrictions early in the campaign meant he could not be included from the opening matchday. By the time the squad was stabilised, Leopards were already deep in trouble and were unable to mount a sustained recovery.
Transfer ban and early-season disruption
Black Leopards began the campaign hampered by a transfer ban that prevented the registration of several incoming players, including a goalkeeper, and left the squad short-staffed. The team opened the season with an enforced 10-man outing, and captain Thendo Mukumela was pressed into action as an emergency goalkeeper during the club’s first three matches.
Those early setbacks compounded as fixtures piled up, leaving Leopards vulnerable on both tactical and personnel fronts. The inability to field a full complement of experienced players from the outset also hampered efforts to build momentum and continuity throughout the season.
Coaching turnover and internal instability
Off the field, Black Leopards reshuffled their technical staff three times in an attempt to arrest the decline, a sequence that undermined long-term planning and consistency. Joel Masutha began the season in charge but departed in November, and his replacement, Mabuti Khenyeza, lasted just 10 matches before another change was made.
Frequent managerial changes disrupted training methods and game plans, creating a cycle of short-term fixes rather than a single coherent strategy. Players and staff repeatedly had to adapt to new approaches mid-season, which contributed to the team’s recurring poor results.
Implications for the squad and Namibian internationals
Relegation has immediate consequences for squad composition, contracts and player futures, particularly for the Namibian internationals who now face the prospect of competing in the third tier. For Muzeu, the drop will test his options: his recent scoring record should attract interest, but the timing of the relegation places pressure on timely transfer or contract negotiations.
Kazapua, who signed a two-year deal, must now decide whether to remain and help the club attempt an immediate return or seek another top-tier opportunity in South Africa or elsewhere. Both players will also consider how the demotion affects their standing with Namibia’s national team ahead of upcoming international windows.
Namibian presence across the division and remaining fixtures
Other Namibian players remain active in the division, with Ndisiro Kamaijanda and Ngero Katua contributing to Highbury FC’s push from sixth place. Prins Tjiueza continues to play a role at Cape Town City FC, which sits third and is level on points with the team just below them as they chase a play-off position.
Black Leopards have one match left in the campaign: they face Lerumo Lions on Sunday, May 17, 2026 at 15:00. That fixture will be the club’s final opportunity to close the season on a positive note and to begin framing the next steps for a squad that must now plan for competition in the Safa ABC Motsepe League.
The relegation compounds a difficult chapter for the Limpopo side, which previously faced demotion in 2023 but retained NFD status after acquiring the franchise of Cape Town All Stars. This second fall tests the club’s resilience and its capacity to rebuild amid financial and sporting pressures.
In the immediate aftermath, attention will turn to the club board, coaching appointments and player retention ahead of the off-season. How quickly Black Leopards can stabilise operations, resolve contract issues and articulate a clear pathway back to the NFD will determine whether relegation becomes a temporary setback or the beginning of a longer decline.
