Zakhele Lepasa seems to be enjoying himself at the moment and SuperSport United CEO Stan Matthews has left the door open to discuss a possible extension of his stay with Matsatsantsa. With the striker seemingly revived since joining SuperSport on loan, the Friday Debate asks if going back to Pirates would be good for him, considering how he was unable to really make a mark at the club.
What happens to Lepasa in the next transfer depends a lot on SuperSport and Pirates, while his performances will also have a say. At the moment, the 26-year-old seems to be enjoying his football and is playing under a lot less pressure from the Pirates supporters, who sometimes have a go at him on social media. Soccer Laduma spoke to three well known individuals in the game to find out whether or not they think the striker should return to the Buccaneers when his loan deal expires.
'He must stay at SuperSport'
Bennett Chenene - former Pirates winger
There are two things with a loan move - it can make or break you. When you see that it's working for you, then I would say that he (Lepasa) should stay at SuperSport. I don't know how much time he has left on his contract with Pirates, but I would say that SuperSport should make an effort to keep, either by buying him or extending his loan deal for another season, because I don't think going back to Pirates will work for him. It will be the same thing if he goes back to Pirates. It was really working out for him there and going back would just kill him. So, my advice would be for him to try to stay with SuperSport. Obviously, he cannot refuse to go back to Pirates because he has a contract there, but maybe he can ask to be sold or loaned out. Sometimes you want to go back to Pirates and then you make things worse. Lepasa did not start well at Pirates, so I think Pirates was heavy for him. There is no need for him to go back because he did not succeed there. If he goes back, he might just fail and that will affect his career. He must stay at SuperSport.
'Please give opportunities to players'
August Palacious - former Pirates coach
Lepasa has been with Pirates for a long time. I don't think Pirates can allow him to go just like that. The only thing the boy has said that is he needs game-time. That's all. I don't think it should come from the Pirates management. It's the coach who should say 'I need this boy'. I think next season we can see Lepasa playing with (Boitumelo) Radiopane at Pirates next season. Where did Innocent Maela come from? He came from Pirates. He was loaned out and now he is captain of Orlando Pirates. All I say is that please give opportunities to the players. That's all. I congratulate Lepasa for what he has been able to do. It's the same with Teboho Mokoena. He is at Sundowns, but he got the opportunity at SuperSport. If you don't give them game time, then the player wants to go out on loan. And then when he goes out on loan, the player does well. Like I say, look out for next season...Lepasa and Radiopane.
'When things are aligned like this for him...'
Dikgang Mabalane - former Pirates winger
At SuperSport, I don't think he has played enough to see he is back (to his best) or that he should go back to Pirates or not. Right now, he should just stay at SuperSport. He needs more game-time and he needs to enjoy football. I think he would be doing himself an injustice if he were to leave, when he is beginning to enjoy his game. Right now, I don't think he should be thinking about going back to Pirates. He should focus on his game and pick up as much as possible before the end of the season. For me, he is not ready yet. He should enjoy himself at SuperSport and he was even called up to the national team, while he is playing for SuperSport. When things are aligned like this for him football wise, why change when thing are going good for you? He would be doing himself an injustice if he leaves. Going back to Pirates means he'd start again, like coming from the bench because there are guys like (Monnapule) Saleng and (Terrence) Dzvukamanja. He should enjoy at SuperSport and, who knows, maybe he will get a better deal going forward, while he is at SuperSport.
