Orlando Pirates striker Zakhele Lepasa has set the record straight regarding the incident that fuelled tempers at FNB Stadium last weekend.
Lepasa’s Orlando Pirates teammate Tapelo Xoki was given a red card after committing a dangerous foul on Mamelodi Sundowns midfielder Haashim Domingo – leading to a verbal exchange between coach Rulani Mokwena and Kermit Erasmus on the touchline.
While Mokwena believed Lepasa was clapping and encouraging Xoki to go hard on an opponent, the striker says he was just consoling his red-carded teammate, Xoki.
The 25-year-old Soweto-born Lepasa has issued a detailed statement on Twitter, saying he wishes the Sundowns player, Domingo a speedy recovery.
The Buccaneers’ hitman, Lepasa, says he also comes from a lengthy spell on the sidelines owing to a dangerous tackle and could not encourage Xoki to go hard on Domingo.
“I would like to put it on record that I did not encourage my teammate Tapelo Xoki for kicking an opponent. It is factually incorrect to suggest that I — or any of my teammates, at that — would do that,” Lepasa wrote on Twitter.
“I stood up to console up my teammate because I knew how important this game was to him.
“I understand that football is an emotional game and at the time everyone’s emotions were high. But I know for a fact that his act was not intentional.
“I would like to wish Domingo a speedy recovery and all the best for the future.”
In his interview with Robert Marawa on Marawa Sports Worldwide, Mokwena said Lepasa did come to him and apologised for his gesture which was misunderstood.
“Funnily enough after the match, Lepasa came to me and said, ‘Coach, I apologise because I was also a victim of a career-threatening injury and have been out for a few months, and probably shouldn’t have done that,” he said to Marawa.
Social Media Users Reacted:
@Bhoza said:
“We all clap hands in football when our teammates get sent off, just to say hard luck player, nothing else. Yokuthi we encouraging our players to play rough, first I’m hearing of such Rulani is just too way emotional.”
@Sundawinner said:
“That’s a sense of maturity boy, we understand, thanks for clearing the issue, Rulani might misunderstand you. We wish Domingo a speedy recovery. Xoki hasn’t apologized, we hope he does soon.”
Main Image: Zakhele Lepasa/FARPost
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