Steve Lekoelea

{{short description|South African soccer player}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2021}}

{{Use South African English|date=May 2012}}

{{BLP sources|date=May 2009}}

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Steve Lekoelea

| image =

| image_size =

| caption =

| fullname = Steve Motsiri-Lekoelea

| birth_date = {{ birth date and age |1979|2|5| df=y}}

| birth_place = Sebokeng, South Africa

| height = 1.71 m

| position = Midfielder

| youthyears1 =

| youthclubs1 = Two For Joy

| youthyears2 =

| youthclubs2 = Milton

| years1 = 1994–1995

| clubs1 = Moroka Swallows

| caps1 = 21

| goals1 = 4

| years2 = 1995–2005

| clubs2 = Orlando Pirates

| caps2 = 194

| goals2 = 56

| years3 = 2005–2008

| clubs3 = Maritzburg United

| caps3 = 13

| goals3 = 1

| years4 = 2007–2009

| clubs4 = Platinum Stars

| caps4 = 17

| goals4 = 0

| years5 = –2011

| clubs5 = Mbabane Highlanders

| caps5 = 18

| goals5 = 0

| nationalyears1 = 1998–2002

| nationalteam1 = South Africa

| nationalcaps1 = 10

| nationalgoals1 = 0

| medaltemplates =

| club-update =

| nationalteam-update =

}}Steve "Chippa" Lekoelea (born 5 February 1979 as Steve Motsiri) is a South African former soccer player who played as a midfielder. He played for Premier Soccer League clubs Moroka Swallows, Orlando Pirates and South Africa.

Career

He was 15 years, 257 days old when he debuted for Moroka Swallows in 1994, and became the league's youngest scorer, aged 16 years, 7 days, when he scored against Umtata Bush Bucks on 12 February 1995. Lekoelea was playing under the name of Steve Motsiri at the time.

Lekoelea first appeared for the senior South Africa national football team as a teen.{{cite web|publisher=Independent Online|author=Cooper, Billy|title=Bafana have high hopes for Lekoelea|url=http://www.iol.co.za/sport/bafana-have-high-hopes-for-lekoelea-1.325704|date=30 July 1999}}

References

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