Zakhele Lepasa has opened up about the unexpected lifeline handed to him through the African Nations Championship, following his recent release from Orlando Pirates.
The 27-year-old striker, now a free agent, was included in South Africa’s CHAN squad in what he describes as a much-needed opportunity to revive his career.
Lepasa revealed that many players tend to overlook the value of CHAN – until circumstances force them to reassess.
“What’s crazy about CHAN is that when you’re playing regularly at club level, you tend to take it for granted,” he told CAF Online.
“But when you’re out of the picture, not playing, and suddenly face the reality of being without a club, you begin to realise how important this platform truly is.”
Lepasa, who previously turned out for SuperSport United before returning to Pirates, views the national team call-up as a crucial moment to regain form and visibility.
“This is as important to me as playing in the World Cup qualifiers or AFCON,” he said.
“More than being happy about the call-up, I’m focused on feeling like myself again – training well, playing, and showing what I can still offer.”
The striker is one of several players let go by Pirates as the club begins a new chapter under recently appointed Moroccan head coach Abdeslam Ouaddou.
With CHAN providing a spotlight for locally-based players, Lepasa hopes to attract interest from clubs seeking a proven forward. South Africa will open their CHAN campaign against hosts Algeria on 5 August 2025.