Orlando Pirates head coach José Riveiro has heaped praise on striker Zakhele Lepasa, who opened his goal-scoring account in the DStv Premiership against TS Galaxy at Orlando Stadium on Saturday evening
Lepasa produced a Man of the Match performance as the Buccaneers cruised to a 2-0 victory against Galaxy.
The Pirates youth product was entrusted with leading the team’s striking force after the preferred front duo Beinvenu Eva Nga and Kwame Peprah failed to make a real impression in front of goals.
Despite returning from a long-term injury, the 25-year-old forward has looked sharp and was a live wire as the Soweto giants scored two goals for the first time in the league since the beginning of the season.
With the Ghosts seemingly struggling for goals, the Spanish mentor was impressed by the Soweto-born attacker scoring his first goal for the club in two years.
RIVEIRO’s THOUGHTS…
“I think we have very good players in every department; Zakhele [Lepasa] is a guy with confidence; he has a very good personality that everyone in the team can benefit from,” Riveiro told the media.
“But again, sometimes you have empty goals, and you kick out the ball, and today it played in our favour
“Hopefully, this is the beginning of good times for us in front of goals because we going to need it in the next game.
“I’m so happy with the collective effort tonight,” added the Pirates mentor
Meanwhile, the Soweto giants are looking to improve from the underwhelming 2021/22 season they had under co-coaches Mandla Ncikazi and Fladu Davids, failing to bring glory in Soweto.
But Bucs came close to winning the 2022 CAF Confederation Cup as they lost in the final against Moroccan side RC Berkane and finished 6th on the league table, a feat nonsignificant at a big club like Pirates.
The Houghton-based side is celebrating the 85th year anniversary, and they’ll be looking to celebrate the milestone by adding a trophy to their cabinet.
