Saleng Orlando Pirates

Lepasa is on fire. Image: SABC Sport

Orlando Pirates star could be frozen out by Bafana Bafana?

Bafana Bafana boss Hugo Broos could freeze out a key Orlando Pirates star if his club situation doesn’t improve.

Saleng Orlando Pirates

Lepasa is on fire. Image: SABC Sport

Bafana Bafana boss Hugo Broos has fired a warning to Orlando Pirates striker Zakhele Lepasa.

OPINION: Only ONE Kaizer Chiefs player makes the Orlando Pirates starting XI

ICYMI: Orlando Pirates smell R200 million


Orlando Pirates star striker could be frozen out for his country

Hugo Broos has expressed concern at the recent lack of playing time for Zakhele Lepasa for Orlando Pirates. Bafana are currently preparing for 2026 World Cup qualifiers and Lepasa is part of the next group to contest said qualifiers. South Africa faces Benin on Saturday before taking on Rwanda on November 21st. Lepasa hasn’t started a game for Pirates since September but Broos has retained the 26-year-old who has 10 goals to his name across all competition this term. However, his place might be at risk.

WOW: Sundowns on course to bank over R150 million

REVEALED: The Premier League team Siya Kolisi passionately supports

Bafana Bafana Hugo Broos
Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos is unhappy and lambasts ex-Kaizer Chiefs midfielder Njabulo Blom. Image Source: (@BafanaBafana/Twitter)

Broos discusses Lepasa

“As I said before, for me, Zakhele is a good striker,” Broos said on SABC Sport before the Bafana squad announcement.

Even though he did not play so much again in the last week, last week he was suspended. But he is the type of striker we won’t have for the moment. We have Mothiba, but Mothiba is tall, he is the one who can keep the ball. Lepasa is the one who moves, he moves a lot.

Therefore again, I selected him for the team for the two qualifiers. But I know if this position stays; he won’t play or doesn’t play much, then okay I may have to choose something else because we can’t go to AFCON with players who don’t have the rhythm of matches in January.”

Bafana and Benin kick off this Saturday at 15:00 from Moses Mabhida.

ICYMI: Why Kaizer Chiefs lost to Orlando Pirates

CONTROVERSIAL: Entire Pirates bench would walk into the Amakhosi starting XI?

Zakhele Lepasa Orlando Pirates Bafana Bafana
Zakhele Lepasa of South Africa challenged by Ishmael Koroma of Sierra Leone during the International Friendly between South Africa and Sierra Leone at Soccer City, Johannesburg on 24 September 2022 ©Gavin Barker/BackpagePix

Hit up James Freemantle for more insights, news, views and commentary.

Also, follow The South African on X for up-to-the-minute news updates