How SA-born Rayon Sports conditioning coach turned into club’s interim coach
SA-born Strength and Conditioning coach Ayabonga Lebitsa, who’s a student of Rulani Mokwena found himself in the driving seat of the Rwanda giants Rayon Sports this campaign.
He joined Rayon Sports in August last year and in what was a surprising move, the club appointed him as an interim coach at the beginning of this year after the previous caretaker coach Mohammed Wade had departed.
Wade was in charge for three months, filling in after the club sacked its previous mentor Yamen Zelfani.
SECURING THREE WINS AS RAYON SPORTS’ INTERIM COACH
Lebitsa led the side to victory in all three games he managed. They secured two league wins [2-1 over Gorilla and 1-0 against Etuil D’Ellest] and a 1-0 cup victory over Police FC.
Currently, Rayon Sports are now under the guidance of the French coach Julien Mette with Lebitsa back in the previous role.
The 37-year-old Lebitsa began his football career, playing in the junior teams of Platinum Stars and Ajax Cape Town. He also donned the shirt of the Orlando Pirates reserve side, then called Yebo Yes FC back in the day.
The Soweto-born, Lebitsa played his senior football in the second-tier sides Mbombela United, Cape Town All-Stars and Baberwa FC.
Following his retirement, he embarked on studying Strength and Conditioning. He then cut his teeth as a Fitness coach under the leadership of his Mamelodi Sundowns head coach Rulani Mokwena at Black Poison.
In 2019, he served South African U/17 [Amajimbos] as a Strength and Conditioner coach before taking on the same role with Lesotho’s Bantu FC.
Following his departure from Bantu, he joined Limpopo’s ABC Motsepe side Munaca FC as a Fitness trainer.
That was followed by a two-year stint with Tshakuma Tsha Madzivhandila during the club’s short spell in the DStv Premiership.
CONTRACT IS ENDING AT RAYON SPORTS, WHAT DOES THE FUTURE HOLD?
With the curtain having fallen on the Rwanda Premier League season, Lebitsa’s contract with the club comes to an end.
He’s understandably open to a move back to South Africa having acquired additional experience outside the country.
Rayon Sports won the Peace Cup this season and ended in position two in the league to qualify for the Total CAF Confederation Cup.
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