Babina Noko secured an impressive fourth‑place finish in the 2024/25 South African top‑flight season, though they ended 27 points behind champions Mamelodi Sundowns.
Now at the half-way stage of their current Premiership season, Sekhukhune find themselves in fifth place on the standings, but a mere six points behind current table toppers Orlando Pirates.
They are also just three points worse off than Sundowns in second place.
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Leaner and his team could pick up another three points in their upcoming clash with struggling Orbit College on Sunday, while they also have a winnable game in their Nedbank Cup last 16 clash against Motsepe Foundation Championship side, the University of Pretoria.
Speaking after the draw for the lucrative cup competition, the in-form shot-stopper said he felt his team was capable of winning the league and going all the way in the cup.
He said in the Sowetan: “We believe that we can go all the way in the league.
“We really believe we can win all our remaining games, even the Nedbank Cup; we believe we can lift it.
“If you look at the league, Sundowns, who are second, are just five points ahead of us; but in the past season Sundowns were already more than 10 points ahead of the teams in the chasing pack. So, the league is open for everyone at this point, and we will give it our all.”
Leaner added that he has his heart set on making Hugo Broos’ World Cup squad, saying: “Being part of the Bafana Bafana squad for the upcoming World Cup is a dream for me. I really have my eyes on the big prize.”