Siwelele FC head coach Godfrey Mosoetsa has explained the decision to bring Zakhele Lepasa back into the first-team fold after the striker made his long-awaited return to action.
Lepasa made his first appearance of the 2026/27 season in Siwelele’s 3-2 defeat to Marumo Gallants last week, marking his first competitive outing since April 2026.
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The 28-year-old joined SuperSport United/Siwelele after his departure from Orlando Pirates, where he previously established himself as one of the club’s attacking options.
He also represented Bafana Bafana at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast, where Hugo Broos’ side secured a bronze medal.
Having taken charge at Siwelele, Mosoetsa has emphasised the importance of giving every player an equal opportunity, regardless of their previous circumstances, with Lepasa seemingly benefiting from that approach.
“Zakhele, I think almost everyone in this room knows who Zakhele Lepasa is. So when I came to the team, the one thing I did, I said we’re starting on a clean slate and everyone will be given a fair chance,” Mosoetsa said.
“[This is] in terms of how they train, how they behave on and off the field, and Zakhele is one of the smartest players, on and off the field. So he is one player who is not scared to pose challenging questions, but he is still humble.”
However, the coach revealed that Lepasa’s return was not rushed, with the recent FIFA international break providing the technical team with an opportunity to work on his readiness before reintegrating him into the matchday squad.
“So it was just a question of… he hasn’t played, so the FIFA break gave us a chance to form a base to start from, and then once I and the technical team felt that he is now ready, it’s when we said let’s bring him in [the team],” he added.
Despite Siwelele suffering defeat against Gallants, Mosoetsa believes the former Pirates forward can bring valuable qualities to the team as they look to improve their fortunes.
With his international experience and familiarity with the demands of top-flight football, Lepasa could prove an important addition as Siwelele look to navigate a difficult period and move away from their current struggles.
“The game against Marumo was his first game [of the season] and going forward we hope that he will bring certain elements he’s known for. We need such players to get out of where we are. We need a lot of experienced players to be able to take out the woods,” Mosoetsa concluded.