Lyle Lakay was not so long ago one of the most exciting players in the Bloemfontein Celtic team, but is now struggling to even hold down a place in the starting line-up.

The player with an educated left foot has only started four league games and has had to settle for a place on the bench and sometimes even in the grandstands for most of this season. This is a far cry from the previous campaign when he started 20 league games and made things happen for the team. He was probably one of the first names on the coach’s starting line-up and used to give opposition fullbacks a tough time with his mazy runs, but this season his luck has turned for the worse.

Could it be a case of falling out of favour with the coach or not putting in more effort in his game? During December last year the player spent more than a week on trial with Mamelodi Sundowns, but could not secure a move to Pitso Mosimane’s side. Could it be that his body is here with us, but his mind is on the other side of town? Let’s hope not.

In order to achieve our objectives of finishing the season inside the top eight, we need all of our players to be in top form and ready when called upon to do the business. Footballers, generally, experience a dip in form at one stage or another, of their careers, but it is how they pick themselves up that matters. We as the Siwelele family know that in the remaining six games of the season, Lakay can rise to the occasion if given the chance.

You do not become a bad player overnight, do you?