George Lebese has revealed the real reasons he left Kaizer Chiefs for Mamelodi Sundowns.
The 28-year-old admits that he didn't reach his full potential during his nine-year stay at Amakhosi, but he is confident that Sundowns will help him reach his best after signing a three-year deal with them over a week ago.
“No, I didn’t fulfil my potential at Chiefs,” Lebese told the media.
“I have been asked that question so many times that there was a point when it annoyed me. It still does. It annoys me because I know it’s a fact that I didn’t fulfil my potential at Chiefs,” he said.
“I can reach my best at Sundowns. You just have to look at their bench and the stands. For me to start, I have to play ahead of a quality player who will keep me on my toes. If I don’t start, I know that a quality player is playing ahead of me and I have to work harder to replace him. I have to be brutally honest with myself. Self-introspection is important because no one knows you better than yourself,” explained Lebese.
Reflectiing on his final season with Chiefs, Lebese said it was the most diffiult and frustrating for him.
He said he had to think deep about his career, especially after being relegated to the bench by coach Steve Komphela.
Lebese added that he left Chiefs because he doesn't want to be another average player in the league.
“Last season was the most difficult and frustrating season I have had at Chiefs since I joined the club,” Lebese continued.
“I had to think deep about my career, where I wanted to be and what I needed to do to get there. I left Chiefs because of two main reasons. [Firstly] I was not a regular. Secondly, we had come off another average season. I don’t want to be average. I felt that I needed to take on a different challenge so that I can grow and fulfil my potential,” he added.
The Mamelodi-born player said he still wants to achieve great in his career, including being an African champion and returning to the South African senior national team.
“There are a lot of things that I still want to do. I want to return to the national team and I want to be an African champion. I am at the best place to achieve that,” concluded Lebese.
