Orlando Pirates have made a decision on the future of striker Zakhele Lepasa whose spell at the club has been hampered by injuries.
Lepasa did not feature at all last season due to an injury and following the end of the campaign, the Buccaneers have decided to cut ties with him.
The striker’s release came to light on Thursday night when he was named in the Bafana Bafana squad for the CHAN 2024 tournament as an unattached player and Pirates confirmed his release on Friday morning.
‘𝐓𝐇𝐀𝐍𝐊 𝐘𝐎𝐔 @Lepasazakhele for your commitment and contribution to @OrlandoPirates. Wishing you the very best in your next chapter 𝐎𝐧𝐜𝐞. 𝐀𝐥𝐰𝐚𝐲𝐬,” Pirates said via a social media post.
What has Lepasa contributed to Pirates?
Lepasa has been at Pirates since 2018, albeit with loan spells at Stellenbosch FC, TS Galaxy and SuperSport United, playing 64 games, scoring 15 goals while adding two assists.
He had scored three league goals in each of the 2021-22 and 2022-23 seasons with his low goal output leading to loan spells away from the club.
Lepasa now will hope to regain his full fitness at CHAN 2024 in East Africa which will earn him a move to a new club ahead of the 2025-26 season to kickstart his club career.
He is the 10th player to leave Pirates following the departures of Innocent Maela (retired), Paseka Mako (released), Thabiso Monyane (released), Miguel Timm (released), Monnapule Saleng (Orbit College, loan), Philip Ndlondlo (released), Mohau Nkota (Ettifaq, Saudi), Thuso Moleleki, Yanga Mabele (Richards Bay, both on loan).
