No excuses for Lebese

Kaizer Chiefs left-winger George Lebese said he can no longer use the excuse of being a young player to explain his poor form.

The 2011-12 campaign is Lebese’s fourth season in the Chiefs first team, and he admits his progress has been “slow”.

And while he is only 22 years old, Lebese said that can no longer be used as an excuse after several seasons in the first team.

“I think youngsters are players in development, so as soon as you are brought into the first team, you have gone past being a youngster,” Lebese told Kickoff.com.

“How many 22-year-olds out there are already playing for their national teams in other countries? So we have to be mindful of who we call a youngster.”

“I think I have been slow in making it to the first team. By now I should have been a regular player, but I guess there is time for everything.”

Lebese also reflected about missing a penalty in the Chiefs 2-1 loss to Golden arrows earlier in the season, after which Vladimir Vermezovic blamed the senior players for not taking responsibilty.

“It was really not a great feeling, you know?” Lebese said. “I felt responsible for the team losing that match, because we could have got a point.”

“It was especially disappointing because, since my days in the development team, I never miss penalties.”