New SuperSport United striker Zakhele Lepasa has broken his silence on his surprise move from Orlando Pirates in the January transfer window.
The 25-year-old endured a frustrating 21/22 season with the Buccaneers. Ploughed by injuries, Lepasa featured just 11 times for Pirates. The 22/23 campaign brought better fortune, with the striker featuring 13 times for Jose Riveiro in the first half of the DStv Premiership season.
A packed attacking line that includes Evidence Magkopa, Kermit Erasmus, Eva Nga and Ndumiso Mabena among others made starting places upfront hard to come by.
Lepasa completed a loan move to Matsatsantsa towards the end of the January window.
"Yes, honestly, I'm the one who asked for the loan and the club didn't agree for the whole month. I think the whole of January," Lepasa explained.
"I asked for it [loan move] because I just thought that I needed to play a bit more. So, I can gain my strength back, gain my confidence back.
"Being back and forth, playing and then three games you don't play, then you're playing again, you [end up] not knowing where your career is going. That's why I asked for the loan."
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Riveiro has backed Lepasa to be successful in the Capital city, where the striker has made three appearances for the Spartans.
"First of all, I wish all the best to Zakheke [Lepasa]. He is a fantastic guy and a very good football player. Hopefully, Zakhele can show at Supersport the player that he is," the Spaniard said.
Lepasa joins Ntsako Makhubela and Kwame Preprah who also left the club in January to seek more playing time.
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