Pirates Riveiro issues update on striker Lepasa

Orlando Pirates coach Jose Riveiro issues a crucial update on lethal striker Zakhele Lepasa but he is uncertain of his availability.

Pirates meet Cape Town Spurs in a Carling Knockout Cup Last 16 slash on Friday night and Riveiro is unsure if the Bafana striker will be available.

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The Pirates striker, Lepasa was excused from the national side ahead of the trip to Cote d’Ivoire owing to a niggling injury.

PIRATES’ RIVEIRO ISSUES UPDATE ON STRIKER LEPASA

The Spaniard, Riveiro reveals that the Soweto-born striker was not 100% as Pirates faced Mamelodi Sundowns in the MTN8 final.

However, Riveiro refused to comment on what happened in the national team as Bafana coach Hugo Broos also provided an update on the striker, Lepasa.

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“What I know is that Zakes came back from the camp last Saturday, if I’m not mistaken, in the morning, due to the injury,” Riveiro is quoted by SABC Sport.

“To be honest, he did have some problems before the MTN8 final.

“We were really taking care of Zakhele in the days before the final [because] he was not 100 percent until the final day.

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“He finished the game, again, not 100 percent, but he made it to be in the national team camp.”

PIRATES COACH ON LEPASA’S EXCLUSION FROM BAFANA

The two-time MTN8 winner with Pirates, Riveiro adds that there is a reason why Broos decided to release Lepasa last weekend.

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While the Pirates coach will look to have all of his dangermen available for the clash at Orlando Stadium, he is uncertain about striker, Lepasa.

“What happened in the national team camp is not in my knowledge, it’s something I don’t know, and I don’t think it’s a good idea to speculate about the health of the players,” he adds.

“If Zakes didn’t complete the national team [camp], you can trust me that it is because he was not 100 percent, and the doctors and physios decided that the best [thing] for the player was to come back to us.

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“But there’s no doubt about whether Zakes was not 100 percent injured, I can tell you.

“He’s getting better, but it’s not 100 percent sure if he’s going to make it to play on Friday for us.”

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With Spurs yet to secure a win out of eight matches in the DStv Premiership, the Buccaneers will look to avoid an upset as they are touted as favourites.

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