Siwelele FC
Siwelele FC, the rebranded SuperSport United that has been shaking up the Betway Premiership with bold moves this season, has landed a major coup by signing former Orlando Pirates striker Zakhele Lepasa on a free transfer. The 28-year-old Soweto-born forward, who became a free agent after parting ways with the Buccaneers in July 2025, will wear the number 40 shirt and bring his proven goal-scoring touch to a team fighting to climb the league table. Announced on deadline day, 22 September 2025, the deal comes as Siwelele, under coach Lehlohonolo Seema, looks to bolster its attack amid a rocky start— just one win from seven matches. Lepasa, a product of Pirates’ youth ranks who shone on loan at TS Galaxy and SuperSport, steps in with fresh motivation after injury setbacks, aiming to revive his career and help Siwelele avoid relegation worries. This signing not only reunites him with familiar Gauteng football but also adds Bafana Bafana pedigree to a squad featuring recent additions like Mamelodi Sundowns loanee Kegan Johannes. As the PSL transfer window slams shut, Lepasa’s arrival signals ambition for a club reimagining itself, offering fans hope for exciting goals and a turnaround in fortunes.
Lepasa’s move caps a whirlwind off-season for the player, who turned down interest from Durban City—where ex-coach Gavin Hunt was keen to reunite—and table-toppers Sekhukhune United. Choosing Siwelele, based in Gauteng despite playing home games in Bloemfontein, keeps him close to family and allows a return to roots, having spent time on loan at SuperSport before its 2025 rebrand. For a striker who once lit up the league with 15 goals in 64 Pirates appearances, this is a chance to reclaim the spotlight and chase personal ambitions like consistent minutes and national team recall.
Lepasa’s Orlando Pirates Journey: From Youth Prospect to Free Agent
Zakhele Lepasa’s path with Orlando Pirates was a rollercoaster of promise and frustration. Joining the Buccaneers’ reserves in 2017, the speedy forward broke through on loans: first at Stellenbosch FC, where he netted three goals in 2020, then at TS Galaxy, scoring eight in 2021 and helping the Rockets win the Nedbank Cup as the first second-division side to lift the trophy. His heroics earned a permanent Pirates spot in 2022, where he bagged 12 goals in his debut season, including a brace in the MTN8 final.
Injuries struck hard in 2023-2024, limiting him to sporadic starts and loans back to SuperSport, where he added four goals. By July 2025, with his contract expiring and coach Jose Riveiro favouring others like Tshegofatso Mabasa, Pirates let him go as a free agent. “Once a Buccaneer, always a Buccaneer,” the club posted, thanking him for his contributions. Lepasa, reflecting at the Pirates’ Giants docuseries premiere, shared his drive: “One thing that would mean a lot to me is seeing myself on the field of play, wearing a football jersey and getting the first minutes of the season.”
His Bafana Bafana call-up for the 2024 AFCON in Ivory Coast, where he scored twice off the bench, cemented his talent. Now, at Siwelele, he joins a front line needing firepower, partnering potential arrivals like Thabang Mosiako.
Siwelele’s Ambitious Rebuild: From SuperSport Roots to PSL Survival Fight
Siwelele FC, formerly SuperSport United and known as Matsatsantsa a Pitori, underwent a dramatic rebrand in 2025 after billionaire Patrice Motsepe’s consortium took over, injecting fresh capital and vision. The name “Siwelele,” meaning “we are moving forward” in Sesotho, symbolises renewal for a club with 14 league titles but recent struggles, finishing 12th last season. Under Seema, a former Pirates assistant, the team has won just once in seven games, sitting 13th with five points.
Lepasa’s signing is the latest in a spree: Kegan Johannes arrived on loan from Sundowns for defensive steel, while interest in Mamelodi’s Lebohang Maboe shows intent. Seema, praising Lepasa’s “hunger and pace,” sees him as the missing link up top, where the side has scored only four goals. “Zakhele knows this league inside out—he’ll make us sharper,” Seema told reporters post-announcement.
The club’s Gauteng base, despite Free State homes, keeps it connected to talent pipelines like those from Pirates and Sundowns. With a R200 million budget boost, Siwelele eyes mid-table security, using Lepasa’s experience to mentor youth like 19-year-old Ime Okon.
Lepasa’s Ambitions and What He Brings to Siwelele
At 28, Lepasa is in his prime, blending clinical finishing with raw pace—traits that made him a fan favourite at Pirates. His 23 PSL goals career-wide, plus Nedbank Cup heroics, position him to lead Siwelele’s line. “I’m excited to get back to scoring and helping the team climb,” Lepasa said in his unveiling clip, donning the No. 40—a nod to his jersey history.
Injuries taught resilience; now, with a full pre-season, he targets double digits and a Bafana recall under Hugo Broos. For Siwelele, facing Pirates next on 28 September, Lepasa could debut against his old club, adding spice to a survival scrap.
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