Zakhele Lepasa's career has not been the smoothest, but with the start he is having to the season, this could just do the trick in taking his football to another level, where he can finally reach the potential many believe he can.
If you've spent some time on social media, or maybe you've attended a game at Orlando Stadium, then you'd know that Lepasa hasn't had it easy from the Pirates supporters over the last few seasons. When he went to SuperSport United on loan in January last season, you could feel a sense of relief in him. He joined a club where there wasn't a lot of pressure and he was able to enjoy himself a bit more. You could tell in the interviews that he did with the media that he needed to be in a different environment to find himself a bit.
Even after missing a penalty in the 5-0 victory over Sekhukhune United, he got back up and completed his hat-trick with a close-range finish. He did not allow that penalty miss to kill his confidence and that's the type of attitude he is going to need throughout the season.
It's a change that he needed. Now, just two weeks into the new season, the 26-year-old has bagged five goals. It's easy to get carried away in a situation like the one he is, or to hit back at his haters, but the approach he is taking should be admired. He is focused on his game and you can tell that he wants to get better and do well. This could just be the season he puts all the negativity behind him and he finally reaches the potential many had hoped he would have by now.
Being a striker in football is tough. Some may not admit it, but you are judged by the goals you score. As a striker, you could have many assists, but you will ultimately be remembered how many times you rattled the back of the net. The Brazilian Ronaldo will forever be remembered for his goals, same as Romario or Alan Shearer. That's just how football works.
So, Lepasa is playing in a position where there is generally a lot of pressure and criticism, so being able to deal with it, and still perform, will be important for him throughout the season. This is in fact a big opportunity for him. Pirates have spent years looking for someone they can consistently rely on for goals and this is the time the striker can raise his hand and show that he is capable of carrying the team where they need him the most.
He is obviously going to need the support and love from everyone from Pirates, but ultimately it needs to come from within. When things are tough or he is not finding the back of the net as regularly as we would like, Lepasa will need to dig deep within to rediscover himself and his form. Some of the strongest individuals in the world find their way within themselves and don't rely on others to get the best out of them.
This is definitely going to be a big season for the former TS Galaxy striker and the good thing is that he looks like he is up for the challenge. And with the Africa Cup of Nations coming in a few months from now, Lepasa certainly has an opportunity to convince Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos that he should be the main man upfront for the national team during the tournament.
The number nine jersey can be heavy, especially at a big club like Pirates, but Lepasa appears to be fully equipped to deal with the pressure and bring happiness to the 'Happy People'. Pirates need him to be at his best and consistent, so that they can launch a serious challenge for the Premiership title, which Mamelodi Sundowns has won six times in a row.
