Orlando Pirates’ Riveiro explains decision to loan Zakhele Lepasa
Orlando Pirates coach Jose Riveiro has explained the reasoning behind Zakhele Lepasa’s loan move to SuperSport United on PSL transfer deadline day.
The Bafana Bafana international Zakhele Lepasa only made 10 appearances in the DStv Premiership this season and scored once. This was mainly due to his lack of form and stiff competition in the Bucs squad.
The Soweto giants has six other players who play in Lepasa’s position. These are namely; Kermit Erasmus, Kabelo Dlamini, Ndumiso Mabena, Evidence Makgopa, Eva Nga and recently signed Cameroon international Souaibou Marou.
WHY LEPASA JOINED SUPERSPORT ON LOAN
According to Riveiro, Lepasa joined the Tshwane outfit on loan in search of more game time.
“This is a competitive environment, we have 36 players in the squad. There’s no possibility to guarantee minutes to anyone,” Riveiro told the media.
“I understand not only Zakes [Zakhele Lepasa], but every other player who decides he needs to play more and find a possibility to find those minutes in a different place.
“It’s normal in football, when we talk about big squad and quality squad like this. It’s difficult to give the players what they really deserve, it’s almost impossible.”
WHY RIVEIRO ACCEPTED LEPASA’S DECISION
Riveiro went on to state why he accepted Lepasa’s decision and hopes it works out for him.
“It’s something I have to respect as a coach and accept. Sometimes the player decides to go somewhere else, it’s something respectable, it’s not going to be a problem.
“He’s a fantastic guy and a good football player, hopefully Zakhele [Lepasa] can show at SuperSport the player that he is,” he added.
Lepasa is available for selection and may make his SuperSport debut when they host Cape Town City FC on Saturday, 4 February.
Kickoff at Lucas Moripe Stadium is at 5:30pm.
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