Striker’s Orlando Pirates future ‘touch and go’ as contract expires
Orlando Pirates are ready to revamp their striking department next season, with one of their forward's career at the club hanging by a thread
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Orlando Pirates are believed to be on the market for a striker, but already have a few.
One of those strikers being Zakhele Lepasa, who is again rumoured for the Pirates exit door!
Lepasa’s fall from grace
Lepasa started the season well for Pirates, going on the pre-season tour to Spain and doing enough to stay. The player was then upgraded to the number nine jersey after the departure of Tshegofatso Mabasa on loan. That move seemed to do the trick for the Bafana Bafana international as he rediscovered his scoring boots.
But a mixture of injuries and falling out of favour has since seen Lepasa on the peripheries of the Pirates squad. The striker has hardly featured in match day squads for the Buccaneers in 2024, despite suggestions he is not injured. With his contract set to expire at the end of the season, indications are he may well leave. There are, however, contract talks thought to be underway as per Soccer-Laduma.
Pirates career 50/50?
“For now it’s like a touch and go situation for Zakes (Zakhele Lepasa) as far as his contract is concerned. No one is sure whether he will renew his stay or not. But the fact is that he signed a five-year contract in 2019. It’s ending at the end of the current season and there is nothing on the table yet. But you are aware, Pirates have their own way in terms of how they operate but right now time is running out for Lepasa. And mind you, the team is also inquiring about other strikers and that could have a baring in his contract as well,” said the source to the publication.
This publication reported on Thursday that SuperSport United are interested in signing Lepasa permanently. The player was on loan to Matsatsantsa for the second half of the previous campaign and could be interested in the opportunity to lead the line there.