Former darling of the Orlando Pirates faithful, Steve Lekoelea, has reacted to the club's decision to hand current poster boy Patrick Maswanganyi the iconic jersey number 10.
When it comes to the Buccaneers, the jersey number will always be associated with the great Jomo Sono.
According to CAF, only jerseys numbered from 1 to 40 can be used for their continental tournaments, meaning the club will also bring back the retired jersey number 13 and 22, previously used by the late Clifford Moleko and Lesley Manyathela respectively.
READ | JUST IN: Official 2024/25 PSL fixtures announced
Maswangwanyi, the reigning PSL Players' Player of the Season, will continue to use jersey number 28 in the club's domestic matches.
"I cannot comment much because Jomo is still around. He is the president, and I'm the vice president," Lekoelea tells KickOff in an exclusive interview.
"The number 10 belongs to Jomo Sono, and I'm his deputy. But that said, I believe jersey number 10 should be given to a player who doesn't mess around on the pitch and knows how to lift the spirit of the crowd.
"I'm talking about a player who dribbles going forward, not standing still. A good player who dribbles to create chances.
"You must hustle for the team and be a captain of the ship. You must go forward and not stand in the same position.
"Today's players like to dribble while standing in the same position, while we were looking to go forward. You should do those things in the second half when we are leading with five goals," says the man nicknamed 'Chippa'.
Lekoelea, a tricky winger in his heyday, believes a good jersey number 10 should be able to carry the team and be found all over the pitch.
"You should be a captain without an armband.
"At the moment, I haven't seen such a player at Orlando Pirates, but I think this season we will have a player like that.
"Remember, the seasons are not the same. You can wake up today to learn that you have won R8 million."