Football moves can be unpredictable, and Zakhele Lepasa’s transfer to Siwelele FC was no exception. The former Orlando Pirates star joined the team hoping for a fresh start. However, things didn’t quite go as planned, with Lepasa managing only three appearances and one league start throughout the season.
The Soweto-born player faced a tough time adapting, having joined the team without a full pre-season. He only properly integrated with the group during the AFCON break in December and January.
Seema Stands by Lepasa Despite Limited Game Time
Coach Lehlohonolo Seema believes Lepasa’s story is far from over. Despite the lack of playing time, Seema has been impressed with Lepasa’s hard work. “Zakhele has been working very hard,” Seema revealed. “He hasn’t played in a long time, and he’s one guy who is strong mentally. However, I had to change a lot of things in my training, and some of them proved to be difficult for some of the players.”
Seema also highlighted the challenges faced by players who join clubs without being match-ready. “A lot of players here were just unlucky; they did not do pre-season. It’s either they did not have a team or did not have game time at their previous clubs.”
Lepasa’s Future at Siwelele FC
Seema thinks it’s still too early to judge Lepasa’s performance, given the limited opportunities he’s had. “I cannot say I’ve got an overall assessment of Lepasa because he hasn’t had a fair amount of games. We are still looking forward to seeing him more.”
Lepasa still has a year left on his contract and is expected to remain with Siwelele FC going into next season.
