Black Leopards defender and former Bafana Bafana player Thendo Mukumela has showered praise on the club's new coach, Maxwell Konadu, emphasising his dedication to "maximising each and everyone's potential" and his unwavering focus on "doing things right."

Konadu, who previously led Asante Kotoko and served as an assistant coach for the Ghanaian national team, has taken the reins at Black Leopards ahead of the 2024/25 Motsepe Foundation Championship season.

Konadu has been given the challenging task of revitalising the Limpopo-based club and restoring them to their former glory.

Black Leopards, a beloved and widely supported club in South Africa, faced the harsh reality of relegation to the ABC Motsepe League, the third tier of South African football, in May 2023. However, the club's owners, deeply committed to its legacy, were determined to avoid the drop into amateur football.

Over the past few decades, Leopards have faced relegation four times, struggling to maintain their position in the top tier of South African football. Despite spending 12 seasons in the premier division, they only managed to finish in the top eight twice.

Rather than rebuilding from the lower divisions, the club opted to purchase the status of All Stars, securing their place in the Motsepe Foundation Championship. Now, with Konadu at the helm, they are determined to strategise their return to the topflight.

Konadu has made a promising start, securing a win and a draw in his first two matches in charge. Mukumela emphasised the coach's focus on precision and attention to detail, particularly when it comes to building attacks from the defence. As a defender, Mukumela values Konadu's insistence on initiating plays with accuracy and intent.

“Coach Maxwell is doing great,” Mukumela, formerly with AmaZulu, said. “He likes things to be done right, he's the kind of coach who says if you are doing something, you better do it right.”

Mukumela went on to elaborate on Konadu's coaching style. “He likes starting from the back, he's a coach who believes in playing (keeping possession of the ball). So everytime we start from the back - I'm a defender I know that a lot. Whenever we start from the back he tells me, 'Thendo, if you are going to do, do it right'.”

The coach's focus on finishing and the finer points of the game is seen as crucial for the club's success. “He's the kind of coach that likes precision, he likes proper finishing. Everything that he does, he focuses on the little detail that's what we need at the club,” Mukumela added.

Mukumela, a product of Mamelodi Sundowns' youth system and former youth international, expressed his faith in the coaching staff, highlighting Konadu's vast experience at both club and international levels as a major advantage. He firmly believes that the team is well-equipped for a successful season under their guidance.

“With coach Solly (Luvhengo - Black Leopards assistant coach), he's worked with many clubs. He worked in the national team, at the top level. We have a very good technical team and we are going to do well this season.”

Leopards will be hoping that Konadu's approach and the team's renewed focus will propel them back to the top flight, the Betway Premiership.

Mukumela shared his thoughts while attending the NJM Top 8 Challenge in Thohoyandou, a town situated in a predominantly rural and semi-arid part of South Africa, not far from the iconic Kruger National Park. Leopards hails from Thohoyandou although they are now based in Polokwane, which is a 180km distance.

Konadu utilised the weekend to observe and identify promising players at the tournament, a creation of businessman Nyambeni Jones Maphalaphathwa, the founder and CEO of NJM Group of Companies.

This event serves as a valuable opportunity for emerging talents in the Thohoyandou region to showcase their skills.