Lesley Manyathela

Lesley Phuti Manyathela (4 September 1981 – 9 August 2003) was a South African professional soccer player who played as a striker for Premier Soccer League club Orlando Pirates and the South African national team.

Nicknamed "Slow Poison" for his goalscoring prowess, Manyathela scored 48 goals in 73 appearances for Orlando Pirates and was the league's top goalscorer in 2003. Later that year, he was involved in a fatal car accident. Following his death, the PSL named its top scorer award after him, while the national team temporarily retired the number 19 jersey which he had previously worn.

Club career Having represented Chelamoya and Dynamos at youth level, Manyathela joined Orlando Pirates with whom he made his senior debut in September 2000, at the age of 19. During the 2001–02 PSL season, he ended the campaign as the league's second top goalscorer behind Ishmael Maluleke. The following season, he claimed the Golden Boot award, becoming the second and, to date, most recent Pirates player to win the award, and helped the club to its second league title in three seasons. His domestic form caught the attention of a host of European clubs and at the end of the season he underwent trials with Ligue 1 side Lyon and Greek side OFI Crete. He ultimately made 73 appearances for the club and scored 48 goals.

International Manyathela represented South Africa at under-20 level, where he scored once in five appearances, and at under-23 level where he scored six goals in 13 appearances. His first goal came in a friendly against Madagascar in March 2003 which he followed up with a brace in a 3–1 win over Trinidad & Tobago in June. After his death later that year, the South African Football Association temporarily retired the number 19 jersey which he had worn during his time with the national team. He was driving with a friend at the time of the accident, who suffered only minor injuries. His tombstone was unveiled the following month, precisely on Heritage Day.

International goals Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition 1. 29 March 2003 First National Bank Stadium, Johannesburg, South Africa 2–0 Win Friendly 2. 14 June 2003 Basil Kenyon Stadium, East London, South Africa 2–1 Win Friendly 3. 14 June 2003 Basil Kenyon Stadium, East London, South Africa 2–1 Win Friendly