Orlando Pirates striker Zakhele Lepasa is putting in the hard work at training to reclaim his starting position in the team, according to head coach Jose Riveiro.

Lepasa emerged as Pirates’ key attacker at the beginning of the season, netting an impressive 10 goals in all competitions within the first two months. However, his scoring touch has since dried up, with his last goal coming against Stellenbosch FC in the MTN8 semi-final second leg away.

However, Evidence Makgopa, who scored the crucial goal against Kaizer Chiefs in the Soweto Derby last November, took over Lepasa’s starting spot. Makgopa’s performance earned him a call-up to the Bafana Bafana squad for the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Ivory Coast, where he even started and scored the opening goal in the Round of 16 against Morocco, ultimately helping Bafana clinch the bronze medal. Lepasa was primarily used as a substitute during the tournament by coach Hugo Broos.

Upon returning to Pirates after the AFCON, Lepasa now finds himself behind Tshegofatso Mabasa, who was on loan at Moroka Swallows and recently impressed with a hat-trick in Pirates’ dominant win over Golden Arrows. Despite being on the bench for that match, Riveiro opted not to bring Lepasa on.

“You’re absolutely right,” Riveiro said when asked Lepasa was doing well at the start of the season but things are no longer the same for him.

“Zakhele was scoring early in the season, even bagging a hat-trick (against Sekhukhune United) in the MTN8 quarterfinals. He was in good form with a lot of playing time and goals. However, we play with a single striker. Right now, he hasn’t had many minutes, which explains his lack of recent goals in matches. But he’s training well, fighting for his spot, and trying to understand what we expect from him and his position. He’s working hard to be ready when the opportunity arises.”

Lepasa isn’t the only striker facing limited playing time but Kermit Erasmus, who has yet to score a league goal this season.

Indications suggest Lepasa will be on the bench while Mabasa starts when Pirates face AmaZulu in the Nedbank Cup quarter-finals at Moses Mabhida Stadium on Saturday (18:00). Notably, the venue Pirates hasn’t lost to Usuthu since reopening for domestic football after the 2010 FIFA World Cup.