An Orlando Pirates striker from the Limpopo province was one of the greatest things to happen in South African football. Lesley Manyathela was born in 1981 and was a deadly top striker who scored at will by feet or head. To date, no South African player has scored more goals than Manyathela in the top league.Manyathela was so deadly that they named him 'Slow Poison'. He was so gifted and no one will forget his last goal before his road accident death, a first-time taken venomous shot connected from a cross from the right. The man from Limpopo had gone for trials overseas with a few teams interested in his services.
Capped just 9 times and scoring 4 goals for Bafana Bafana, he had just began what was going to be a great career that was going to set the 2010 FIFA World Cup alight. Lesley was the ultimate striker for many coaches and was so dure footed he was penciled for a few European trials including the English Premiership.
Manyathela was to become a home-grown top goal scorer for a long time even after his passing away. He is actually the last player to score over 30 gaols in one season. There is only one befitting way to describe the deadly Slow Poison, that he was yet to blossom South African jewel. This is because he was yet to reach his full potential.
Slow Poison was very committed to the game in an amazing way. He put a lot of time and effort into training and matches. Manyathela scored a lot of beautiful goals that the Happy People will continue to remember for a long time. He was very gifted without any measure of doubt.
Lesley, almost literally, died with his boots on in a car accident on his way to see his mother in Limpopo just after his match in 2003, 9 August. It was a dark day for South African football and indeed, his family. May his soul rest in peace.
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