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No place for Lekgwathi at Pirates

Cape Town - In news that may shock many Orlando Pirates fans, the Soweto giants have revealed there is no place for Lucky Lekgwathi at the club in any capacity.

The 40-year-old club stalwart and former captain served Bucs with great distinction for the best part of 15 years.

During his time with Pirates, he achieved numerous personal accolades and led the team to some of their most memorable triumphs.

Such was the high esteem in which he was held at Pirates, even Dr Irvin Khoza was moved to remark when handing the defender the Chairman's Award in 2011, "He is a gentle giant that follows northern stars when going home from Johannesburg."

Khoza added, "In his reference I will add the words - dependable, doer not talker, exemplary and conscientiously competent."

However, after a career of incredible service in which Bucs won virtually everything there is to win in South African football with 'Phinda Mzala' the leader at the back, the club have revealed they don't have a role for him in any capacity.

The 40-year-old has not officially hung up his boots, although it is thought his playing days are over due to age and injuries.

Nonetheless, it was widely thought that the club would create a role in a managerial or administrative capacity for the centre-back.

Pirates administrative officer Floyd Mbele told Isolezwe that this would not be the case: "His contract will not be renewed because he's not in Muhsin Ertugral's plans."

Mbele added: "People should stop giving other people false hope. We won't be able to hire every retired player simpy because they had been with the cub for years."

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