Orlando Pirates forward Zakhele Lepasa has cleared the air on what transpired on the touchline leading to the altercation between Mamelodi Sundowns head coach Rhulani Mokwena and Kermit Erasmus in the Carling Black Cup final.
Sundowns hammered Pirates 4-0 in the final of the Carling Cup at FNB Stadium on Saturday. Pirates defender Tapelo Xoki was shown a red card for a career-threatening tackle on Sundowns’ Haashim Domingo.
WHY LEPASA CLAPPED
Lepasa clapped for Xoki as a sign of consolation after going for an early shower in the final. Mokwena was livid with Lepasa, eventually causing an ugly exchange between Mokwena and Erasmus.
However, the Pirates attacker has come out to publicly clarify that the clapping was not to condone the harsh tackle on Domingo but to cheer up his teammate Xoki as the final meant a lot to him.
“I would like to put it on record that I did not encourage my teammate Tapelo Xoki to kick an opponent,” tweeted Lepasa on his official handle.
“It is factually incorrect to suggest that I or any of my teammates would do that. I stood up to console my teammate because I knew how important this game was to him.
“I understand that football is an emotional game, and at that time, everyone’s emotions were high. But I know for a fact that his act was not intentional.
SPEEDY RECOVERY
“I would like to wish Domingo a speedy recovery and all the best for the future,” he concluded.
The Pirates youth product is no stranger to a career-threatening injury after suffering a long layoff that kept him out for more than a year during the 2020/21 DStv Premiership season.
In the current campaign, the 25-year-old striker has made 12 appearances in all competitions and scored one goal while contributing one assist.
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