FORMER Orlando Pirates striker Zakhele Lepasa has officially closed the chapter on his time with the Soweto giants, and he did it straight from the heart.
The 28-year-old Bafana Bafana star took to social media to share an emotional farewell video, where he talks about his departure from the club.
The video comes shortly after Pirates released an official statement confirming that Lepasa has parted ways with the team.
He is now a free agent.
In the video, Lepasa appears visibly emotional as he reflects on his journey with Pirates and the difficulty of walking away from the club he's called home for several years.
"It's been a difficult time trying to process what's been happening in the past few weeks. I've known for a while now that I was going to leave the club. I've used this time to reflect," he said.
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Lepasa joined Pirates in 2019 after his memorable loan spell at TS Galaxy, where he scored the winning penalty in the Nedbank Cup final, helping them make history as the first lower-division team to lift the trophy.
That performance earned him a place in Pirates' senior squad and later a call-up to the national team.
In his farewell message, the striker made sure to thank those who supported him throughout his time at the club.
"I want to thank the chairman (Irvin Khoza) for giving me the opportunity, management, every coach I've worked with, my teammates, the kit men, backroom staff and most importantly, the fans. To everyone who's always been rooting for me from day one, thank you," he said.
Lepasa also expressed excitement about what lies ahead, even though he hasn't yet revealed his next move.
"As I step into the next chapter of my life, I look forward to it with excitement and I'm grateful for what I leave behind. Once and always," he said.
The heartfelt video has been shared widely, with fans and footballers showing love and support for the talented striker, who still has plenty to offer as he enters a new chapter in his diski career.
