Black Leopards creative midfielder Jabulani Maluleke has promised Lidoda Duvha faithfuls that the club will not be relegated to the Vodacom League at the end of the season.

This is despite the fact that Leopards are languishing at the bottom of the National First Division Inland stream with 19 points from 18 games.

The Limpopo outfit are left with with three games to complete their programme for the season.

Also fighting for survival are Witbank Spurs and another Limpopo side, Dynamos, who have accumulated 20 points apiece after 18 games.

Maluleke said Leopards’ victory over Amazulu in the Nedbank Cup Last 32 has boosted the team’s confidence and the plan is to keep the winning momentum.

“Our main focus is in the league, but that does not mean we will not take cup games seriously. We will take each game as it comes.

“Our main focus is to win all our remaining three league games with the hope that other clubs will lose,” he said.

Leopards will play two of their last three games at home. They will host title contenders Mpumalanga Black Aces and AmaTuks and travel away to neighbors Dynamos.

Leopards were relegated to the NFD last season along

with Jomo Cosmos, who are currently in good position to return to the Absa Premiership.

“I’m definitely sure that we will survive relegation this season. Since the arrival of our coach (Vladislav Heric) the team sprit has been up,” Maluleke said.

“Once we survive, we will be competing for a return to the elite league the season after next.

Maluleke was once put on transfer but retained after teams failed to agree terms with Leopards. He was linked to Bloemfontein Celtic.

The NFD is currently on break and will resume on April 4.