Lebogang Manyama's untimely retirement from professional football came as much of ashock as it was a surprise. Having been sidelined by injury, it seemed adone deal that the Alexandra-born midfielder's reunion with theMother City-based Cape Town City would be happening.
Vuyani Joni: Kaka, what a surprise announcement about your premature retirement from professional football. How are you doing and feeling?
Lebogang Manyama: Errr... it is really not easy to have to make such a decision and this is not something I woke up and made up my mind on yesterday. I made the announcement yesterday (Friday) so that I let the public know what was happening because it is difficult when people keep asking me what's next, where am I going to play next season, knowing I won't be playing anymore but I couldn't tell them. Some were begging me to join their favourite teams and I didn't really have answers for them. So, it was a really difficult time, but I had to let everyone know what was going on. It has not been easy, but we are here and nobody died! Ja, it is just one of those things.
VJ: As a professional athlete, the temptation is always to think about the supporters who love and appreciate what you do for them on the field. However, behind that athlete there is a human being. We hear what you've just said, indeed nobody died, but what is your current state because this is a life-changing moment?
LM: You are 100% correct and honestly, just like you said, this is life-changing and there is no way I can be ok with walking away from the game I love so much. This is the only thing I've known for the past 20 years or so of my life. Ja, at the end of the day, I think it will get better with time. For now, it really hurts, but the reaction I've got from people since I announced my retirement has been overwhelming. A lot of very important people have shown a lot of love and support for me and sometimes you don't know what you have or the impact you have on others until something like this happens. That's the positive that I draw from my situation and it is going to help me through. Just seeing the love from former teammates, opponents and even people I never knew personally, all taking their time to show their support and expressing how I made them feel, has been amazing. It really humbles me and, for me, that's enough and above everything else.
VJ: What really happened and when did you find out your professional career was over?
LM: Obviously I've been injured for about two years and I never really healed 100%, so in that period I was never pain-free even though I played. Over time, this thing (retirement) was just a thought that kept on building up. I have not played in a long time and that meant I had so much time on my hands. That's when you start thinking what else can you do besides football, to kill time? When you start doing those things, the thought just grows naturally. Before you know it, you realise that, "Actually, there are other things I like to do", you know. Ja, look, about a month or two ago, I met a doctor who was, out of all the doctors I've dealt with, the most honest with me. He is one person who has always been honest. Even when I went to see him yesterday (Friday), he was honest with me. After undergoing a surgery, I went for an honest opinion and his answer was simple and straightforward. His diagnosis was as exactly how I felt and he just told me the honest truth. All I wanted to know was whether I would be able to play football again or not. He told me I would be able to walk properly without any pain after the recovery but for football, there was no way I would ever be 100% even after recovery.
VJ: Eish.
LM: That, for me, was a determining factor because if I can't be 100%, then there was no point in playing football again. This game is about people, not just those who employ you but the supporters who pay their hard-earned money, so if you can't give them 100%, then what's the point? It wouldn't be fair on anyone. Another thing, I didn't want to risk playing any further because the doctor told me even if I play at 60%, in a year or two I will need a knee replacement. That's an even bigger health risk. So, those kinds of things needed to be taken into consideration. I also didn't want to be a limping father to my three-month old boy, whom I still want to play and walk around with. I know some people think it was a sudden decision that had to be made, but that's not the case. People saw me in the gym, working hard, and I really tried my best, that much I can promise you because I wanted to come back. I was very optimistic about coming back and the thought of coming back to a place I was so comfortable in, Cape Town, was even more exciting. After what I have just said, everything boiled down to me wanting to have a full functioning body for my kid and family. That played a huge role in my decision and there was also the financial side of things. You can't have all your eggs in one basket. I'm a new father, there's also my girlfriend and I also have my family and extended family to look after. So, you think of that and you wonder if paying for the best treatment over a year would be really, really worth it? People say I'm still young, but I've been in the DStv Premiership for 12 years and that's a lot. Some people don't even get to five years. I've enjoyed myself, had my ups and downs. I've been at the highest pinnacle of the game and, at the end of the day, we have to be grateful and that's one of the reasons I made that call for myself and my family.
VJ: What was going through your mind when you penned that heartfelt announcement on social media.
LM: Errr... luckily, we did a lot of media training at Kaizer Chiefs and that helped a lot in terms of portraying a message and how you let everyone know what is going on without causing chaos around it. This was a short and direct message to show my gratitude to the millions of football people who have been rallying behind me all these years. There are people I worked with since the age of six and they are still part of my life and career. I'm talking about coaches in Alexandra, Tembisa, Ajax (Cape Town), provincial squads and all the teams I have played for. So, it was a case of getting a message across so that they all know what is going on. I owed them that much because they loved and supported me so much. We had a lot of fun and it was important to let them know what really happened. There were a lot of mistakes along the way and I wasn't perfect at all. I will obviously not be lost to the game. When I heal and become normal, I will be back in football in a different role.
VJ: Great. Please talk to us about what really happened for you to be where you are, a retired footballer.
LM: Err... obviously this is an injury I suffered when I was still at Kaizer Chiefs. It was in the quarterfinals of the CAF Champions League away to Simba (SC) in Tanzania and we took a 4-0 lead to that game. I played with the injury and it felt exactly the same way it did when I injured my other knee at Chiefs. A lot of people won't know it but, if you remember when I came back into action during the Nedbank Cup final against TS Galaxy, after being out of action for about three months. That was the same injury I had against AmaZulu FC and I knew I was in trouble, but I continued to play, with the adrenalin pumping. If I can remember, we had two games to go to qualify for the Top Eight and they were against Golden Arrows and Galaxy, before we could go on a break and then play the CAF semis against Wydad (Casablanca). I played those two games with an injection, but my knee swelled up after the second game. We went for scans and stuff and it was revealed that I had another meniscus tear at first, which would take three months like the one on the right. I went through the rehab and all that, but this one was different to the previous one. Remember, I had the same injury on my right leg, but there was something different about this one. The pain wasn't the same and nothing seemed the same at all and I knew something was not right. Coach Stuart Baxter can attest to the fact that I really, really tried to come back for him, most importantly for myself, because he's someone I hold very highly. I badly wanted to play for him at Chiefs, but I was just never pain-free and he knew and understood what was going on with me. That's why he continued to believe in me and I appreciated it. Unfortunately, it was just not working and my knee kept on giving me problems. We rested it for two weeks and then had a trip to Cape Town and coach Stuart was sick and couldn't go with. I was recovering and I even played two friendlies in that December tour, but it was not without pain. All this time, I didn't know I was making things worse for myself because my cartilage was getting messed up and I was getting arthritis in my knee. I thought I had an ACL (Anterior Cruciate Ligament) as per the doctor's diagnosis, only to find out that was not the case. I went for another scan in March last year and we really tried, but the pain just wouldn't go away. It happened that my contract with Chiefs was coming to an end and then I went to the doctor after receiving a call from John (Comitis), who wanted to know what my situation was. I was honest with him and coach Eric (Tinker) to say, "Look, this knee hasn't healed and I have a feeling I haven't done a correct operation because I had this injury before, and I know everything about it. I know what it took to get me back in action, but this one is just different. Something is not right here. I will have it checked out." Indeed, I did just that and I went to a different doctor who saw what he saw with the cartilage, arthritis and the meniscus but nothing about the ACL.
VJ: Wow!
LM: I then did the second surgery and I kept Cape Town City in the loop because both parties were interested in a reunion, you know. John allowed me to spend three weeks of recovery this side (Gauteng) before I could join them for training and things looked promising until around September. That's when I moved to the Mother City with the hope of signing with them. Unfortunately, things kept getting worse and I got a second meniscus, and coach Tinkler and everyone at City were there for me through it all and I'm very grateful for that. I played a friendly for them and I was buzzing, with everyone feeling that I was on a comeback trail. Then, boom, just before the World Cup break, my knee swelled up to such an extent that I even struggled to walk, let alone run. I couldn't even go down a set of stairs. It was really, really that bad. City organised a scan from doctors that side and this was during the World Cup, so it was time for me to come back home because my girlfriend was pregnant. I told the boss and the coach and they fully understood what was going on. I said I would go to the scan in Jozi and let them know what's happening. They agreed and I did exactly that. I went to the same doctor where I got the second operation and he told me both my meniscus were torn, I don't have cartilage and my arthritis has gone higher.
VJ: Eish, bad news.
LM: Eish, bro, I was thinking this guy is not far from telling me about retirement, ha, ha, ha. That's when I really started thinking about life after football. We did the rehab and I got my own physio and training from the people I have a great relationship with over the years. They offered their help, we worked through it and really tried to push, but I could tell that we were not getting anywhere. You know the leg was just not responding to the treatment and, as I said earlier, nothing that was going on with this new injury was similar to the old one, which was really weird. Something was just missing and not right with this injury. So, I started making calls because I have great relationships with coaches and physios even from my former teams. The coaches passed my story to the doctors they know. I then got a scan done in Randburg about a month ago and the results came back, which I sent to three different doctors. Two of them saw the same thing, with one telling me exactly what I was feeling. Remember I told you I felt like we had done a wrong operation? I'm not trying to point fingers or anything like that, but I have mentioned it to a lot of people that I felt we'd done a wrong operation because this was the same injury but it felt completely different. I kept on saying that even to my teammates because, like I have been saying, the second one was completely different to the first. My former teammates can even remember me telling them about this second operation. Ask Itu (Itumeleng Khune), "Tower" (Erick Mathoho), Sifiso Hlanti who was also inured at the time, Keagan (Dolly) and all the guys will tell you, I would sometimes joke about this having been a wrong operation because I was so convinced and it was always ringing in my head. When the doctor confirmed my suspicion, I told him exactly how I felt. Life happens whether we like it or not, and that's what I told him, and then asked if I could compete at the highest level after all of this? He was honest enough to say the best I could do was play around together with my kids. I thanked him for his honesty because that was enough for me.
VJ: How are you handling this?
LM: Football has taught me a lot and that's why I will forever be grateful to the game. It would be of no use for me to continue playing football when I can't play to the highest level. It wouldn't be fair on my next team and this game has been too good to me to cheat on it. I always give my all, every day, and I don't ever want to even consider giving 50% effort. My main thing has always been that I either win or learn. Accepting defeat is the last thing on my mind. There must always be a lesson in a loss. Man, I've had a lot of good times in football, although there were times where we cried togetherÉ from the coaches to the bus drivers. In every team I played for, I created memories and friendships, so I walk away from the game in a good space. Yes, it will obviously take a while to recover from this, as it is life-changing, but I still believe life is an endless journey. Now I get a chance to be a part of my son's life from a very young age, which is a huge blessing. That's exactly how I would have liked things to happen because I also had my father actively involved in my life from a young age until he unfortunately passed away. This is a new chapter for me and I am going to try to enjoy it, coupled with fatherhood, as much as I can. I will be back in this game in a different role because I have amassed a lot of knowledge and experience not to share it with these kids. I've already started working on it, but I don't want to reveal much for now. Time will tell.
VJ: Can you safely say you've left no stone unturned before deciding to call it quits, with your medical team?
LM: Err... I had more than five opinions and the writing was on the wall. After the first three, any further consultation was just taking chances or avoiding the inevitable. There was honestly no chance and let me clarify this statement. It is not like I couldn't play anymore, the issue is that I will never be able to play at the highest level that I want to. So, I will always play through pain, which means I will never give my all (in terms of) physical capacity and I don't want that. I also can't play just one game and ask to be rested for another week or so before I can play again. For me, that wouldn't be fair on myself or any teammate for that matter. If I can't be 100% into it, then there is no place for me in professional football. I refuse to be a player that will be carried by his teammates, never! It doesn't matter where I play, whether it was indoors, five-a-side or just among friends, it was always the same as playing for Ajax, SuperSport United, Mpumalanga Black Aces, Cape Town City, Kaizer Chiefs or the national team because I'm competitive like that.
VJ: You left Chiefs injured and there was a possibility of rejoining the Citizens. Leaving Naturena was a disappointment on its own, but knowing you were not going to reunite with coach Eric and his team must have been a terrible blow.
LM: I always look at things in a wider view and I think that gives one a bigger picture. Firstly, the last club I was attached to is the club I dreamt of playing for. You have no idea how much playing for Chiefs meant to me. I know a lot of people have a lot to say, but those who saw me play for Chiefs will agree that I always gave my best. I played with my heart on my sleeves and I hated leaving the team, I really hated leaving Chiefs. That's because I knew what it meant for them and what wearing that jersey represented. I knew the people I represented and it was devastating to leave them in that manner and not even getting a chance to prove myself because of the injury. I couldn't do anything to earn myself a new contract because I was injured. However, I tried my best with everything I had to help bring silverware and end the team's trophy drought. I honestly tried my best and my teammates and all the coaches can attest to this. For me, that was enough and my main thing was gratitude to finally realise my dream and I will forever be grateful for that. The fact that Chiefs is the last team I played for is something special to me and I will always carry that club in my heart because it is a club I supported growing up, got to play for it and experienced some unforgettable memories and created friendships with everyone associated with the club.
VJ: Right.
LM: I will tell you a story when I first arrived at Naturena. I met some of the cleaning ladies at the Village and I had gone to see Sir BobSteak (Bobby Motaung) in his office and these ladies told me, "Yhoo! You're finally here! We've been waiting for you for five years already." Ha, ha, ha, I couldn't have asked for a better welcome because for the cleaning ladies to have wanted me at Chiefs for that long, man, what more could I really ask for? That was something else because it made me so emotional. The fact that we went through the COVID-19 without any salary cuts makes me even more grateful to the Chairman (Kaizer Motaung) and everyone at the club. It was special playing for Chiefs and I am sorry we didn't win anything during my time, to really show our gratitude for everything they've done for us. I really, really tried my best and the nearest the club came to breaking the drought, I played a big part and you can check the numbers. It is ok for me for people to criticise us because I know no one will criticise you if you do nothing.
VJ: How did Mr C and coach Eric take the news that your career was over?
LM: Look, man, to be quite honest, it didn't make sense for me to try and force matters. My relationship with the boss, Mr Comitis, his entirely family and coach Eric wouldn't allow me to play for them at 50%. The Comitis are the ones who took me in when I was a 19-year-old boy from Alex and gave me a home at Ajax, so we really come a long way. No matter the love they have for me, it wouldn't make sense to go ahead with the deal before I could prove myself. One thing I can tell you, a contract was guaranteed for me at City and they did everything they could to get me right, but it was just not to be. John has always been part of my life (and) even when I went to SuperSport United, he was behind that move. The man flew to Jozi to meet me when he wanted to start his City project with only 14 players and he pleaded with me to join them, and I agreed. Look at what has become of that team since then! John, Maimane Phiri and coach Eric were three of the first few people who knew about my retirement about a week before my announcement because I owed it to them. John opened the door for me to come back to his team whenever I want and said we'd definitely arrange something. Coach Eric treated me like one of his players when I was in Cape Town before it became clear that I wasn't going to play anymore. Him and coach Diogo (Peral), his assistant, would ask for my opinions and that really made me feel as part of the team already. I was embraced by everyone at the club, but once again, it is a pity I couldn't sign.
VJ: Kaka, before we let you go, what's your message to the supporters who are obviously disappointed to hear of your untimely retirement?
LM: Firstly, I'm humbled by the reaction and the emotion that goes with it. Everything has been touching for myself and the family because I've been receiving a lot of love and support and I want to thank everyone for it. I see a lot of people thanking me, but I think I should be the one thanking all of you guys for coming to the stadium to watch us play. I hope I served you with pride and that chapter is now over and I'm grateful for everything I have gained from this game. I made a lot of friends and made some people angry on the field, but it was all part of the game and nothing personal. I will keep everything with me and I appreciate all of you. Thanks for everything and take care.
VJ: Brother, it has been real. We thank you for entertaining us and always being a consummate professional and a role model. We are sad to see you go but wish you all the best in your new path.
LM: You're welcome my brother. Personally, you've always been there for me and I can't thank you enough. The poster you guys sent me is one of the things I treasure the most, so thank you Soccer Laduma as well. I will never forget that gesture.
