Bafana Bafana head coach Hugo Broos has thrown his support behind Orlando Pirates striker Zakhele Lepasa.
After starting the season in blistering form that saw him score ten goals within the opening eight matches across all competitions, Lepasa has since endured a five-match long goal drought.
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However, Broos, who named Lepasa is the final 23-man squad for friendlies against Eswatini and Ivory Coast, insists there is no need for concern over the striker’s form just yet.
"No, [I’m no worried], I think every striker has a moment of not scoring, that can happen," Broos said during the Bafana squad announcement on Thursday.
"It depends sometimes from him, because the opponents now know you have to mark him very closely because he scored a lot of goals. Opponents are going to play differently against him.
"It’s also up to the team, you score because the team gives you the opportunities to score, so I think t’s a little a mix of all that.
Lepasa continues his red-hot form ??
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"But Lepasa has showed us that he is a player that scores very easily. So now because he’s not scored for a few games I have to be worried and I don’t have to call him for the national team?
"You have to give confidence to players. It’s not because when they play a bit less you suddenly have to say 'no I’m not taking this one, I take another one. So that’s the confidence I give them (to keep selecting them).
"But it’s up to them to show that they deserve the confidence.
"I’ve said it a long time ago, Lepasa is very good striker. He just needed the confidence and he’s getting the confidence now from his coach at Pirates.
"But like every other player, he couldn’t go on like he was doing because at the end of the season he would have 40 goals, so some moments you will have a less moment (poor form) and that’s maybe what is happening now with Lepasa.
"Maybe also because the performances of the team are not so good anymore. I’m not worried about him. For me, he stays a very good striker.
Bafana take on Eswatini on Friday, 13 October.
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