Hugo Broos surprised at Zakhele Lepasa's lack of game time at club level

The player moved on loan from Orlando Pirates to SuperSport United in January in search of regular matches but has struggled to break into the starting line-up under coach Gavin Hunt too.

Broos is a huge admirer of Lepasa, who scored in the national team’s 2-1 win over Morocco in their AFCON qualifier on Saturday.

"I said it already in the past, Zakhele is always a player in his club who has problems. He didn't play in Pirates, now with SuperSport he doesn't play every game or parts of the game and I really don't understand it," he said.

Lepasa made his Bafana debut in September last year against Sierra Leone, where he got two assists in a 4-0 victory.

In six appearances now under Broos, the forward has scored three goals.

"You see I give him confidence because I know he's a good striker. He's a good striker but you have to give him confidence, first of all. He still has to improve but I'm very happy with him," the coach explained.

One of his goals was also against Liberia in the 2-1 win that secured Bafana’s AFCON spot in March, giving Broos even more reason to select him.

"Every game he played; he made an important goal in Liberia so I don't think for defenders it's nice to play against him. He's quick."

Lepasa is expected to return to Pirates next month after his loan spell with SuperSport United ended, and Broos is concerned ahead of the continental tournament in Ivory Coast in January next year.

"We always ask him 'Zakhele go deep, you're quick' and he did it. I'm very happy with him and for me, it's a little surprising that he's really not a standard player in his clubs."