Injury free Lapasa ready to take the field

ZAKHELE Lepasa’s nine-and-a-half year chapter with Orlando Pirates was closed yesterday following the striker's season-long spell on the sidelines.

- MIHLALI BALEKA

Lepasa was nurtured in the club’s development a few years ago. As such, the club banked on him to be a capital investment someday.

And so as to protect him, instead of throwing him in the deep end, they loaned him out, notably to TS Galaxy during the 2018/2019 season, to get some game-time.

Lepasa shone at Galaxy, then competing in the national first division at the time, helping the team win the Nedbank Cup.

That triumph in the final was sweeter for Lepasa as he scored the winning solo goal against the arch-rivals of his parent club, Kaizer Chiefs.

Lepasa returned to Pirates after that season, but he failed to live up to expectations at the club, due to form and injuries.

The 28-year-old, who also spent six months at SuperSport United at some point, failed to make a single appearance for Pirates last season due to an injury.