Lyle Lakay ‘happy to be back where it all started’

Lyle Lakay has made a return to his boyhood club where he started his PSL journey, saying: “I’m very happy to be back where it all started with the same coach that gave me my professional debut.”

Lakay rejoined SuperSport United almost 15 years after leaving to play his football at Bloemfontein Celtic. That Celtic stint came after several loan spells at FC Cape Town.

The 32-year-old returns a four-time DStv Premiership winner with Mamelodi Sundowns. He has penned a two-year deal with an option to extend at Matsatsantsa, the club announced on Friday.

Sundowns deemed Lakay surplus to requirements, and he reunited with head coach Gavin Hunt at SuperSport.

The news will provide a further boost to SuperSport. Matsatsantsa started the new Premiership season with a comfortable victory against Richards Bay and a draw away to AmaZulu.

Lakay’s arrival offers Hunt the option to deploy him on both ends of the pitch, giving him more options up front and in defence.

LYLE LAKAY DELIGHT AT MOVE TO SUPERSPORT UNITED

“SuperSport United FC would like to confirm the permanent transfer of Bafana Bafana international wing-back Lyle Lakay,” the Tshwane outfit said in a statement.

“Lakay started off his career at Matsatsantsa at the youth academy and was promoted to the senior team by head coach Gavin Hunt in 2009. He then went on to play 15 games in his maiden season.”

He left SuperSport in 2012 to join Celtic, where he featured in over 100 games in the PSL with seven goals and 13 assists to his name.

“After a successful stay in Free State, Lakay moved to Sundowns and then Cape Town City, making over 340 appearances in all competitions and winning 10 trophies. These include four league championships, three Nedbank Cups, Two Telkom Knockouts and one MTN 8 trophy.”

Lakay has also featured at international level with Bafana Bafana with 11 caps. He was recently on national duty at the 2023 COSAFA Cup in Durban.

He expressed his delight at returning to SuperSport, stating that he is eager to help the club win trophies.

“I know the coach’s mentality and what the team has achieved before with winning trophies. [SuperSport] finishing third last season and winning the league when the coach was here,” he said.

“By saying that, I think we have a good mix of experience and youngsters to try and compete for silverware. I will do my best to try and help the team, but also to help and guide the youngsters.”

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