By Mark Gleeson BBC Sport, Cape Town

Former SA coach 'Shakes' Mashaba is the new Black Leopards boss

Just a month after being ousted at the helm of South Africa's national team, Ephraim 'Shakes' Mashaba is back in the football business - taking over at club side Black Leopards.

Mashaba was fired one day before the start of the African Cup of Nations finals last month, precipitating a massive collapse in the fortunes of the country's team at an embarrassing time in their bid to win the right to host the 2010 World Cup.

Mashaba has signed a two-year contract with Leopards, who are based at Thohoyandou in the extreme north of the country.

The club are ninth in the 16-team table after 19 matches this season.

He will replace David Byrne, the son of former England international Budgie Byrne, who has been caretaker coach since late last year.

It will be Mashaba's first job with a club since the relegation from the top flight of South African football of his last side Vaal Reef Stars in 1992.

He has worked for the South African Football Association since 1993, culminating with his appointment as national coach two years ago.

Mashaba was fired after criticism of his squad selection for the Cup of Nations tournament in Tunisia.