Red-hot Orlando Pirates striker Zakhele Lepasa has sent a message of thanks to club chairman Dr. Irvin Khoza after scoring his first-ever hat-trick for the club.
Lepasa and his teammates ran riot against Sekhukhune United in the second half of their MTN8 quart-final, putting four past the visitors.
The striker had opened the scoring first half and added two more after the break, despite missing a penalty as well – and took home his first-ever match ball for scoring a hat-trick.
He was also named Man of the Match and sent a word of thanks for Khoza after the final whistle, saying the Bucs chairman was the one who told him to come back.
“I want to thank today for the opportunity, I also want to thank the chairman for believing in me,” he told SuperSport TV.
“He’s the one who said you need to come back, we need you, you need to work harder. Because he knows what I’m capable of from playing in the development, how I used to score goals.
“He’s the one who expressed all this confidence in me. And the guys, the way that they welcomed me, like I never left. So I’m very happy.”
Lepasa also praised the overall quality in the Pirates squad, saying he is working with many incredible players.
“To be honest, this is probably the best team I’ve ever played with,” he continued.
“I’m including everyone, even the ones who are not here yet. People are injured. Our squad is just out of this world.
“I’m just lucky to be at the finishing end of every move. Like I said this is a good squad, a lot of competition, I’m just doing my best to work hard.”
Despite his hat-trick, Lepasa also missed a penalty but he still confidently stated that he will take the next one again.
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“It should’ve been four [goals]. I’m sad because I practice penalties every day and it’s one of those,” he added.
“But I promise you one thing, if we had another penalty today or if we have another penalty in the next game, I’m taking it, I promise you that.”
