Zakhele Lepasa has opened up on the Orlando Pirates Series, Giants, set to premiere this evening on SuperSport and what fans can expect from it.
The mini-series that will be broadcasted over the next month goes deep into the lives of the players and behind the scenes footage of the 2024/25 season that ended without the silverware they craved as they finished runners-up in the league.
It was one of the priority targets for head coach Jose Riveiro as he bowed out in his third and final season upon the expiry of his contract and in the first episode, it delved into the lives of Thalente Mbatha and Tshegofatso Mabasa.
“It’s important for people to see the other side of our lives, so they can understand we’re also human beings and maybe also lower expectations of certain things, they might think we have the privilege of getting,” Lepasa explained at the Series Premiere on Thursday.
“Now when they have to go your family and friends and see there’s not much change in terms of lifestyle; there’s not much change in terms of the human being that you are. And with that they will lower down their expectations.
“There’s the benefits of playing in front of 90,000 people but not much has changed in my life, this is what this documentary shows – and in the most purest form.”
Lepasa, who was on the periphery of the squad and has since left Pirates ahead of the new season, said it will be something important for fans to see the emotions involved with the players and loved ones off the field.
“Supporters get to see a different side of us, see how important football is to us and our families and friends, and how much dedication goes into trying to prepare for a football match, I’m sure within the documentary, we just saw the first episode, but I’m sure within it you see when the team loses,” he said.
“You will see when there’s a fight in the changing room, you will see what happens when we lose, how our families feel, they will see there’s not a gap between us and them, we love football, we love the club as much as they do, if not more.
“We’re a big part of it as players. Fans make the club but we as footballers have the responsibility to make those fans happy.”
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