On Thursday, Orlando Pirates head coach Jose Riveiro explained the reason behind Zakhele Lepasa’s loan transfer to SuperSport United.
Lepasa had seen his playing chances at Pirates diminish following the signing of Kermit Erasmus from Mamelodi Sundowns early in the season, who was immediately picked as a first-choice striker. Lepasa started being used off the bench from October and made 13 appearances in all competitions this season, but was loaned out to SuperSport for the remainder of the season on transfer deadline day.
Riveiro said he understands that Lepasa is seeking game time and wished him well at Matsatsantsa, as he could not “guarantee” him minutes in a “big and quality squad”. He added that it is a “normal thing in football” and he has to respect and accept the decision.
DEAL DONE
Zakhele Lepasa has joined SuperSport United, on loan from Orlando Pirates.UNPLAYABLE pic.twitter.com/P8EwK5aPgm
— UNPLAYABLE (@UnplayableZA) January 31, 2023
The recent form of forward Terrence Dzvukamanja has also made competition for places more tougher and Riveiro said that it would be difficult to please everybody in such circumstances and he has no problem with Lepasa searching for game time elsewhere.
“It’s difficult to give to the players what they really deserve, it’s almost impossible. So sometimes the player decides to look for that somewhere else and it’s something respectable. It’s not gonna be a problem,” he said.
