Lebogang Manyama

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Lebogang Manyama

| fullname =

| image =

| caption =

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=y|1990|09|13}}

| birth_place = Tembisa, South Africa

| height = 1.81 m

| currentclub =

| clubnumber = 21

| position = Midfielder

| youthyears1 =

| youthyears2 =

| youthyears3 =

| youthyears4 =

| youthclubs1 = Balfour Park

| youthclubs2 = Alexandra FC

| youthclubs3 =

| youthclubs4 =

| years1 = 2010–2013

| clubs1 = Ajax Cape Town

| caps1 = 91

| goals1 = 16

| years2 = 2013–2016

| clubs2 = SuperSport United

| caps2 = 29

| goals2 = 6

| years3 = 2015–2016

| clubs3 = → Mpumalanga Black Aces (loan)

| caps3 = 14

| goals3 = 3

| years4 = 2016–2017

| clubs4 = Cape Town City

| caps4 = 37

| goals4 = 14

| years5 = 2017–2018

| clubs5 = Konyaspor

| caps5 = 10

| goals5 = 2

| years6 = 2018–2022

| clubs6 = Kaizer Chiefs

| caps6 = 95

| goals6 = 15

| nationalyears1 = 2013–2022

| nationalteam1 = South Africa

| nationalcaps1 = 17

| nationalgoals1 = 1

| pcupdate = 12 July 2023 (UTC)

| ntupdate = 27 May 2018

}}

Lebogang Manyama (born 13 September 1990), nicknamed “Kaka” is a retired South African professional soccer player who is the assistant coach of Cape Town City F.C.{{Cite web |last=Moganedi |first=Kgomotso |date=2023-09-19 |title=Retired Lebogang Manyama joins the Citizens as Tinkler's assistant |url=https://sundayworld.co.za/news/sports/soccer/retired-lebogang-manyama-joins-the-citizens-as-tinklers-assistant/ |access-date=2023-10-03 |website=Sunday World |language=en-ZA}}

Early life

Manyama was born in Tembisa but grew up in Alexandra, north of Johannesburg. He attended Northview High School.{{cite web|url=https://soccer-10.co.za/lebogang-manyama-commend-mamelodi-sundowns/&grqid=4Oj_7yHM&s=1&hl=en-ZA|title=Lebogang Manyama commends mamelodi sundowns|publisher=soccer.10.co.za|accessdate=9 March 2020}}

Club career

=Ajax Cape Town=

Lebogang Manyama made his professional debut for Ajax Cape Town on 20 August 2010 against Mamelodi Sundowns, winning (4–3) on penalties after a 1–1 draw, in a quarterfinal match of the 2010 MTN 8 tournament at Athlone Stadium in Cape Town. He was acquired by Ajax Cape Town in the summer of 2010 as a transfer from FC Alexandra. During his time at Ajax he was a stand out player in the South African Premier League and was subsequently acquired by Supersport United.{{cite web|title=Lebogang Manyama|url=http://www.ajaxct.com/players.htm?player=1365|publisher=Ajax Cape Town Official Site|accessdate=13 February 2011}}

=SuperSport United=

He went on to play for Supersport United who later on loaned him to Mpumalanga Black Aces for the 2015/16 season. He had a good season however his season came to an end after he suffered an injury during the latter stages of the season.

{{cite web |url=http://www.kickoff.com/mobile/news/62895/lebogang-manyama-ruled-out-for-three-weeks-with-three-broken-toes | title=Manyama has three broken bones | publisher = Kickoff.com |date=18 February 2016}}

=Cape Town City FC=

In 2016, Lebo was signed by Cape Town City F.C. and was subsequently named Captain for the team's inaugural 2016/17 Premier Soccer League campaign. He made history in the club's opening PSL season by guiding them to the prestigious Telkom Knockout Cup trophy, in a 2-1 victory over Supersport United. In this season he was the League's top goalscorer and named South African player of the year. His role at Cape Town City has seen him cement his place in the national team and is regarded currently as the best player in South Africa.{{cite news | url=https://www.iol.co.za/sport/soccer/psl/intelligent-and-aware-manyama-is-special-7766906 | title=Intelligent and aware - Manyama is special | date=15 February 2017 | first=Rodney | last=Reiners | publisher=IOL | accessdate=5 May 2019 }}

=Kaizer Chiefs=

After a short spell with the Turkish side Konyaspor, Manyama signed for Kaizer Chiefs {{Cite news|url=http://www.goal.com/en-za/news/kaizer-chiefs-sign-lebogang-manyama/daij1i6w3azy1s71opq83p0zb|title=Kaizer Chiefs sign Lebogang Manyama {{!}} Goal.com|access-date=22 August 2018|language=en}} He went on to lead the Glamour boys' forward line alongside ex-Sundowns duo of Khama Billiat and Leanardo Castro alongside Serbian marksman Samir Nukovic to help Chiefs finish second to Sundowns and subsequently qualify for the CAF Champions League.

International career

Manyama has made 11 appearances for the South African National Team netting 1 goal. He is mostly used as an attacking midfielder or false-nine in the national team as he interchanges comfortably between a midfield or striking role. He made his Bafana Bafana debut in 2013 and continues to be selected, with the most recent call-ups in June 2017 for the AFCON qualifier against Nigeria and the international friendly against Zambia.

=International goals=

:Scores and results list South Africa's goal tally first.{{cite web|url=https://int.soccerway.com/players/lebogang-manyama/148888/|title=L. Manyama|publisher=Soccerway|accessdate=13 June 2017}}

class="wikitable" style="font-size:85%;"

! No !! Date !! Venue !! Opponent !! Score !! Result !! Competition

13 June 2017

Moruleng Stadium, Saulspoort, South Africa

align="center" | 1–0

Friendly

Early Retirement

In June 2023, Manyama announced his retirement at 32. A persistent knee injury had cut short his career. Having been sidelined since March 2022, Manyama parted ways with Chiefs last year, and despite nearing a return to his former club Cape Town City, he remained without a team.{{Cite web |last=Vardien |first=Tashreeq |title='Today marks a very sad day': Ex-Bafana and Kaizer Chiefs midfielder announces shock retirement |url=https://www.news24.com/sport/soccer/bafanabafana/today-marks-a-very-sad-day-ex-bafana-and-kaizer-chiefs-midfielder-announces-shock-retirement-20230630 |access-date=2023-08-24 |website=Sport |language=en-US}} The inability to recover from a knee ailment has now been confirmed as a consequence of a misdiagnosis, leading to a conclusion to Manyama's football playing career.{{Cite web |last=Delport |first=Rob |date=2023-07-06 |title=Manyama Reveals Why He Had To Retire |url=https://www.idiskitimes.co.za/dstv-premiership/manyama-reveals-why-he-had-to-retire/ |access-date=2023-08-24 |website=iDiski Times |language=en-US}}