Manyama wants a whole lot more
GONGS: CAPTAIN BAGS THREE, BUT HE’S NOT SATISFIED
‘I learnt that in life you never lose, you learn’.
If the words Lebogang Manyama uttered after being conferred with three top Premier Soccer League (PSL) awards on Monday night are anything to go by, there is a lot more the 26-year-old player will achieve in his career.
Manyama was the main man in Monday night’s glitzy awards ceremony as he bagged the Footballer-of-the-Season, Players’ Playerof-the-Season and Top Goalscorer honours.
For the Tembisa-born player, the awards serve as proof that bravery breeds success. Having come out of a lengthy injury layoff, Manyama had to make a huge decision about his career.
“I had doubts about going to Cape Town City because the team had 14 players and with the standard improving every year in the Absa Premiership, what were we going to do with 14 players? But after a while I thought that maybe after sitting out for eight months it was the kind of challenge I needed,” he said.
With Manyama as captain, City went on to win the Telkom Knockout just four months after their formation and went on to finish third in the league.
“The eight months that I was out played a big role in terms of how I approach the game and conduct myself on and off the field.
“I was young when I was at SuperSport and there were a couple of mistakes which I made that I can’t lie about and hide under the carpet, but they taught me a lot...
“I learnt that in life you never lose, you learn. Even when I was out I watched the games and thought when I came back I would want to enjoy myself,” he said.
Manyama’s City team-mate Aubrey Ngoma – who bagged the TKO Player-of-the-Tournament and league’s Midfielder-of-the-Season awards – said accolades will serve as motivation for him as he recovers from a knee injury suffered while on national duty with Bafana Bafana.