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Thohoyandou - National First Division outfit Black Leopards boss David Thidiela has admitted that the club feels saddened and broken following the departure of head coach Zeca Marques last weekend.
The “Lollipop” handed in his resignation to Lidoda Duvha after spending five months in charge.
Thidiela has confirmed that the former Moroka Swallows mentor left the Venda based outfit due to family matters.
Despite failing to get PSL status, Thidiela insisted that the club was happy with Marques contributions and offered him a new contract which the Portugal born tactician did not sign on the dotted line.
Thidiela, 55, also hailed Marquez tremendous record in charge of the club since taking over, of winning 11 games, drawing two and losing only one game out of the 14 games played last season.
“It never rains but it just pours, it is so heart breaking for us because we thought we have built a solid relationship with him," said Thidiela.
“That’s why we had a new contract ready immediately after the play-offs.
“We have drafted a new contract for him and sent it to him and his lawyers. But we were surprised at a later stage when the contract was not being returned back to us.
“But somehow we were patient because signing a contract takes time.
“Then I asked him about it after a week but I had a bad feeling about it.
“Then I was so surprised last week Friday when he called to tell me that he is leaving and by that I thought maybe he meant just for a weekend but he said that he is leaving for good because his family needs him back home.
“I tried to persuade him to ask them to come and live with him here (Venda) because we gave him a big house but he declined.
“I’m so saddened it ended this way because he did very well for us as a coach.
“Out of the 14 games played, he won 11, drew 2 and lost only 1 - and that was a tremendous record for in the club history. But we’ll soldier on as a team.”
