Bafana Bafana striker Zakhele Lepasa has been released by Orlando Pirates in the ongoing transfer window.
The forward played 64 games for the Sea Robbers across all competitions and found the back of the net 20 times. However, last season, he didn't feature after sustaining an injury that kept him out of action.
Despite recovering, former Bucs coach Jose Riveiro felt the 28-year-old was surplus to requirements. The South Africa forward, who is part of the country's Chan squad, has now opened up on his plan ahead of next season.
‘It brings a lot of doubt in my football career'
“I think for me the one thing that would mean a lot to me is to see myself on the field and wearing a football jersey and being able to get the first minutes of the season. It's something that I'm looking forward to,” he told SABC Sport.
“I didn't play the whole season last season, but I've had an injury like that, the difference is that one had occurred in December, but I only came back the next December. So, it's like I only missed the last part of the season and the first part of the season.
“So, I never really felt like I was out the whole season and for me this is the first time that this happens and it brings a lot of doubt in my football career. It brings a lot of doubt in my life as well, in terms of can I still try and be back and do what I can do best and maybe get back into the national team and all the goals that I've set for myself.
“I'm also yet to see that but it has done nothing but fuel my hunger because of the pain that I had to go through, the sacrifices that I had to make in one year, for me to find myself playing football again,” Lepasa continued.
How will Lepasa use CHAN?
“What's crazy about CHAN is that a lot of us players, when we play and we are regulars in our team, tend to take CHAN and an opportunity like that for granted until a situation like this comes where you haven't played for a while and you understand how important it is,” the former SuperSport United striker added.
“Now it is as important as going to Bafana Bafana to go play the qualifiers and to go play in AFCON or whatever the game may be. So, I'm yet to think about it to be honest but I'm definitely happy but for me, it's not just about being happy, it's if I can see myself playing again.
“Training well and playing again and feeling like myself again, I think that's one thing that I'm looking forward to,” Lepasa concluded.
