With 20 goals in all competitions between them, Bafana’s trio of Zakhele Lepasa, Lyle Foster and Percy Tau could not have found their form at a better time! Here’s why…
Hugo Broos and Bafana’s preparations for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations and the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers are in full swing and the Belgian coach will be looking at his squad with admiration and pride ahead of their upcoming friendly encounters, as well as international tournaments.
Following two clashes against Eswatini and Ivory Coast during this international break, Bafana will face Benin and Rwanda in November as their 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers get underway.
Having been impressed by his team in June during international duty where they tamed the Atlas Lions of Morocco thanks to goals by Percy Tau and Zakhele Lepasa, Broos will aim to build on the feat and look to strengthen other areas of the squad.
In other words, I think Broos will go into the next few matches with one less headache having now found reliable goal-scorers at the beginning of the 2023/24 season.
In the in-form Lepasa, Foster and Tau, he can plan ahead for the next AFCON and World Cup tournaments, in addition to having the likes of Lebo Mothiba and some new, young faces who will form part of the national set-up.
Tau, Lepasa and Foster – A brief review of their season so far:
LYLE FOSTER
6 Games in English Premier League | 3 Goals | 2 Assists
The Burnley front man has netted 3 goals in just 5 appearances in the Premier League so far, and may have had more had it not been for a three-match ban after he was sent off against Nottingham Forest.
Foster returned from that suspension to score for Vincent Kompany’s men in a 2-1 win at Luton on Tuesday to register their first win since returning to the top-flight division, before setting up Wilson Odobert for a perfect tap-in goal in their unfortunate 4-1 defeat to Chelsea last Saturday.
Kompany has also been full of praise at the performance of the South African, who signed in January from Belgian side Westerlo.
“He looks a threat every time he plays, he took his goal really well and he also brings other players into the play so it’s promising for him, a promising start,” Kompany said
Another Premier League Goal Contribution for Lyle Foster 🔥🇿🇦
— Shakes Rampedi (@ShakesRampedi) October 7, 2023
6 Games
3 Goals
2 Assists
👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽#PremierLeague #BURCHEpic.twitter.com/s0hFzmVo30
PERCY TAU
4 Goals in 2 games in Egyptian League | 2 man of the match awards
Percy Tau scored twice in Al Ahly’s 3-1 win over Ismaily on Sunday to continue his flying start to the new campaign with the Red Devils.
However, the Al Ahly attacker has reportedly opted to skip the international friendlies owing to personal reasons.
He is a regular face and vice-captain of the national team, and it must be even more frustrating for the Bafana head coach that he is in excellent form, with four goals in his first two Egyptian Premier League matches of the season.
Four goals in two games for Percy Tau in the Egyptian Premier League. 🦁⭐️
— Lorenz Köhler (@Lorenz_KO) October 8, 2023
Top form ahead of the international break with 🇿🇦 @BafanaBafana.
🦅♥️ #YallaYaAhly pic.twitter.com/NoTK5fqYAa
ZAKHELE LEPASA
10 Goals in DStv Premiership | 12 Games
Hugo Broos has long been a supporter of Lepasa’s talents, giving him a chance in the Bafana squad even when he was not getting regular game time in a loan spell at SuperSport United last season.
Likewise, Lepasa has certainly produced for Broos – the netting in Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Liberia and Morocco.
But this season saw Lepasa get off to a flyer with the Buccaneers – scoring 10 goals in all competitions. He has not scored for Pirates, however, in his last 4 appearances across three competitions.
𝐎𝐍 𝐅𝐈𝐑𝐄 🔥
— #UNPLAYABLE (@UnplayableZA) September 3, 2023
Zakhele Lepasa: 🔟 goals, 8️⃣ games.
Man is #UNPLAYABLE this season. pic.twitter.com/Qu9DiKN9bx
