Lesley Manyathela Jr reflects on his father’s legacy, own progress
The son of late Bafana Bafana and Orlando Pirates striker Lesley Manyathela, Lesley Jr, nicknamed “poison”, has opened up on how he has had to deal with expectations of reaching the same standards as his father.
Manyathela Jr [24] is currently in the books of SAFA Limpopo ABC Motsepe League side Musina United. He was given the nickname ‘Poison’ while he was at Highlands Park because of how he used to score goals.
His father, nicknamed ‘Slow Poison’, died in a car accident in August 2003 at the age of 21. Lesley Jr was just three years old at the time. But in his short career, Manyathela senior made a huge impact within the local football fraternity that the PSL renamed the Top Goal Scorer award in his honour.
Before his death, Manyathela was on the verge of securing a move to Ukrainian club Dynamo Kyiv. He represented Bafana Bafana on five occasions following his debut in 2002.
HOW THE SON OF LESLEY MANYATHELA HAS HAD TO DEAL WITH EXPECTATIONS FROM THE PUBLIC
“Being compared to my dad is heavy. People have expectations, and it’s a heavy name,” Lesley Jr told FARPost.
“When they judge my performances, they compare them to that of my dad. So, it has been hard, but there is nothing that I can do. It’s a burden that I was born with, so I have to keep the legacy going.”
WHAT JR HAS LEARNED FROM COMMENTS FROM PEOPLE OF HOW HIS FATHER USED TO PLAY
“If I could be honest, I have not seen most of his clips. I only saw the ones that I got on Facebook or other social media platforms,” he explained.
“But if I look at how he plays compared to how I play, there is no huge difference. I try to copy here and there where I can improve. But it’s been a learning journey so far.”
Manyathela says every time people have an opinion about his performances, they always make reference to how his late father used to play.
“It’s a good feeling when people share their memories of him because I was young when he passed on,” added Manyathela. “But whenever I have a good or a bad game, a person will come and say, ‘Your father could have done this or that’. So I always learn from them because whenever I am alone, I would think about him and be very proud.
“He has set a legacy and a milestone that is so high. So, my goal is to push as hard as I can so that I can at least reach that level. I just want to see myself in the PSL. If only I could get an opportunity I know that I can deliver.”
RELATED STORY: Lesley Manyathela: The slow paced assassin from Musina