Former Bafana Bafana and Kaizer Chiefs attacker Lebogang Manyama has expressed his delight at landing a coaching gig in Cape Town.
DStv Premiership side Cape Town City FC announced on Tuesday that Manyama is the club’s new assistant coach.
The 33-year-old retired from playing football in June this year due to an injury and now rejoins CT City as the second assistant along with Diogo Peral.
A lingering knee injury forced Manyama to retire early, leaving him without a club following his departure from Chiefs at the end of the 2021/22 season. He was on the verge of returning to CT City, but a misdiagnosis of the knee injury prevented him from ever fully recovering.
He is now back in the SA football scenes, reuniting with Tinkler, a coach he played under at CT City back in the 2016/17 season. The midfielder won the 2016/17 PSL Footballer of the Year award and Players’ Player of the Year that campaign.
In addition, he won the Telkom Knockout with CT City and clinched the DStv Premiership Golden Boot after bagging 13 goals that particular season.
MANYAMA JOINS CT CITY AS AN ASSISTANT COACH
“Cape Town City are delighted to confirm the appointment of former club captain Lebogang Manyama as an assistant coach in Eric Tinkler’s technical team. Welcome home, Lebza,” reads the club statement.
Manyama is also thrilled to start his coaching career in Cape Town under Tinkler.
“I’m delighted to join this technical team,” said Manyama on joining CT City’s technical team
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“I have so many great memories here with coach Eric, and I always said I will be back one day to add more success. This club is home to me.”
He will look to use his knowledge of the game as a player to help CT City bounce back to winning ways. The Citizens are on a five-match winless run and occupy 14th on the log standings.
Manyama’s impressive 12-year professional career saw him make 320 appearances, scoring 55 goals and providing 39 assists.