At the age of 45, former Bafana Bafana and Orlando Pirates legend Steve "Chippa" Lekoelea is singing Teddy Pendergrass song, In My Time. The man who wore the iconic jersey number 10 at Orlando longer than any other player has allegedly become a burden to his friends in his hometown of Sebokeng in the Vaal. The former soccer star is accused of always demanding attention and bragging about his former glory while he drinks his life away.

NOT TAKING RESPONSIBILITY 

The former midfield maestro, who was a fan favourite after joining Pirates in 1995 and played for team for a decade, is said to be always drunk and bragging about how good he used to be. A friend of Lekoelea who asked to remain anonymous said the former teenage sensation, who started his professional career at the age of 15 at Moroka Swallows, is blaming the football fraternity for his downfall. One of his drinking buddies said: "Chippa is always bragging about how good he was, especially at the peak of his career at Orlando Pirates. He is not taking responsibility for ruining his career. Today he begs as though he never played professional football. He is a shade of his former self," the friend said. 

ACTING BIG IN A SMALL TOWN

Another source said the neighbourhood is tired of feeling sorry for Lekoelea. "He is busy drinking his life away and he expects us to feel sorry for him. Instead of swallowing his pride and asking the Pirates coach to give him a job to coach young ones, he is busy drowning his sorrows with booze," said the source. Lekoelea's former teammate, Joseph "Dukuduku" Makhanya, coaches the Pirates reserve team, which campaigns in the DStv Diski Challenge. At the age of 18, Lekoelea got an opportunity of a lifetime when he was lured to Holland to play for Dutch giants, PSV Eindhoven. The team boasted top players like Jaap Stam, Philip Cocu, top striker Ruud van Nistelrooy and Brazilian legendary scorer Ronaldo at the Eredivisie side.

He left PSV after complaining of being homesick and struggling to speak Dutch.

NOT THE FIRST

Lekoelea is not the only former Bafana player to drown in booze and become a handful for his friends. Former Pirates captain Mbulelo Mabizela, who also had a stint at Tottenham Hotspur, was fired by the Londeners for ill-discipline and drinking heavily. Another former Bafana star who still fighting booze demons, is Lerato Chabangu. Called for comment, he said: "I don't know you , who gave you this number." then hung up.