Thanks to a coach who barely knew him until a few months ago, striker Zakhele Lepasa is finally coming out of the shadow of the 2019 Nedbank Cup final.
Orlando Pirates mentor José Riveiro wiped the slate clean for everyone when he took over from co-coaches Fadlu Davids and Mandla Ncikazi, and in no time had decided the 25-year-old after first toying with the idea of making Bienvenu Eva Nga the leading man would be the club's first-choice forward.
Lepasa did not only have confidence issues, but had struggled with injuries as well.
Following his return from a loan spell at TS Galaxy, then in the lower division, and being on a high from scoring the winning penalty against Kaizer Chiefs in the cup final at the Moses Mabhida Stadium, his parent team welcoming him back proved an anticlimax.
Just six games from all competitions during a season in which there were three different head coaches running Buccaneers - Micho Sredojević, Rhulani Mokwena and Josef Zinnbauer - and Lepasa reduced to a fringe player.
This story is from the February 2023 edition of Soccer Club.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the February 2023 edition of Soccer Club.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
WORLD CUP DREAM BURNS BRIGHT
Neil Tovey Former Bafana Bafana captain
CONTINENTAL QUEENS
AS BANYANA BANYANA WAIT TO DEFEND THEIR TITLE AT THE WOMEN'S AFRICA CUP OF NATIONS, WE LOOK BACK AT THEIR PAST PERFORMANCES IN THE COMPETITION
TABLE TOPPERS
THE TOP 10 IN THE ALL-TIME PSL TABLE SINCE THE START OF THE 1996/97 SEASON MAKES FOR INTERESTING READING
WHO ARE BAYER LEVERKUSEN?
'Invincible' Bayer Leverkusen swept to a maiden German Bundesliga title in 2023/24. But who are they?
SET-PIECE SECRET
THE THROW-IN MAY SEEM A MUNDANE PART OF FOOTBALL, BUT THERE IS MUCH MORE TO IT THAN MEETS THE EYE
PSL SHARPSHOOTERS
AS THE NEW 2024/25 SEASON BEGINS, BOTH BRADLEY GROBLER AND PETER SHALULILE CAN TAKE AIM AT THE PREMIER SOCCER LEAGUE'S GOALSCORING RECORD AS WE RUN DOWN THE TOP MARKSMEN SINCE 1996
BALANCING THE BOOKS
CAPE TOWN CITY HAVE TO FOREVER SELL PLAYERS TO BREAK EVEN. HERE ARE 11 TOP STARS THEY HAVE ALLOWED TO LEAVE IN THE LAST FIVE YEARS
INTO THE BIG TIME
CLINTON LARSEN HAS LED LITTLE KNOWN LIMPOPO CLUB MAGESI FC TO THE ELITE LEAGUE OF SOUTH AFRICAN FOOTBALL
REDEMPTION
THEMBINKOSI LORCH FACES ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT SEASONS IN HIS CAREER IN 2024/25
AFRICA'S PIONEERS
AFRICA'S INFLUENCE ON ELITE EUROPEAN FOOTBALL IS NOT A NEW THING