Riaan van Straten - 2026 season and upcoming SA Cup

The Leopards are champing at the bit to get their 2026 season underway when the SA Cup kicks off in March. The Potchefstroom-based outfit has put in the hard yards during an intensive pre-season, with Riaan van Straten now officially at the helm as full-time head coach. Van Straten, who brings international experience after a stint coaching in Russia, stepped into the role on an interim basis last year following the axing of Matthew Proudfoot. Speaking to OFM Sport, Van Straten said the transition from interim to permanent head coach hasn’t changed much on the ground, apart from the role now being official and offering greater stability. For him, it remains all about putting in the work to achieve the desired results.