Manyama Reflects On Chiefs: Mentality Was The Biggest Challenge

Lebogang Manyama opened up about the mentality of some of the players he shared a change room with at Kaizer Chiefs.

Check it out!

Read: Design Breakdown: Pirates adidas Go Back To Basics

The story

Lebogang Manyama, who currently forms part of Eric Tinkler's backroom staff at Cape Town City, recently spoke on what he didn't like about the mentality of some of his teammates at Kaizer Chiefs.

The 32-year-old retired from playing in June 2023, after spending an extended period on the sidelines, nursing his problematic knee which failed to fully recover.

When he announced his retirement, he revealed he was being incorrectly treated for medial collateral ligament and meniscus tear instead of a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL).

During an interview with sports journalist Karabo Phasha (commonly known as SK Phasha), Manyama spoke about his time at Ajax Cape Town, Cape Town City, his short stint in Turkey and his big move to Kaizer Chiefs.

Manyama spoke glowingly about Bobby Motaung and the efforts the Chiefs Club Manager put in to get the attacking midfielder's signature.

"I felt valued by Bobby, my wages were also more than what I was expecting. I felt at home from the first minute I got there, a dream come true for me, to be at Chiefs. Even now, I watch Chiefs, I'm a huge supporter. I'm not too well when they lose, even though I'm at Cape Town City. What Cape Town City has done for me also, is bigger than what Bobby did for me," said the former Bafana Bafana international.

"For me, Chiefs was a dream that I had to live. I'm still grateful for it because you realise once you get there that you're at the best institution," added Manyama.

In nearly 100 appearances for the Glamour Boys, Manyama contributed with 15 goals and the same amount of assists and despite some good performances, Manyama's time at Chiefs was marred with injuries and near misses, with narrowly missing out on the title in 2020 standing out.

Read: Throwback: Khune's Contract Woes At Chiefs Isn't New...

Manyama spoke on the mentality of some players he encountered at Naturena, pointing out that he saw complacency from certain players once the signed for the club.

"It's all with respect to the players I played with, there was some top, top players. I just don't we all wanted to do it for Chiefs as much as the other guy did. The efforts of Willard Katsande and Bernard Parker on a daily, not many guys were matching that. 

"The most difficult part [at Chiefs] wasn't the quality [of talent], I felt the most difficult thing there was the mentality. I felt that in certain moments, people didn't see beyond Chiefs. Like 'I've signed for the team, I've arrived, okay sharp I don't need to perform,'" explained Manyama, adding:

"For me, once you hear that Manyama has signed a new four-year contract, for me this contract is to reward those past four years and all the work that I have done. Going there, I haven't done anything to merit the next contract. I would think, the I have work in front of me is to work for the next contract. I start thinking: 'These four years are secured, but after then, what's next?'

"You will see some players coming in [at Chiefs], the Happy Mashiane's etc. With all the hunger, all the energy and wanting to be there and then, there comes a time where they have to renew their contracts. They get these four-years, five-year-deals, some will get better salaries and when it gets there, there's cars and buying of houses, suddenly the performance level starts to drop," added Manyama.

Skip to minute 40 to hear Manyama speaking about Chiefs:

Related tags