For Lebone Seema, the noise has never truly mattered. Like everyone else, he has heard the whispers of those who claim that he is not South African.
He has heard the mutterings of those who often mistakenly link him, because of his surname, to Lesotho-born coach Lehlohonolo Seema, claiming that, like the former Orlando Pirates stalwart, he will one day represent the mountainous kingdom at the national level.
Seema is also largely deaf to the growing hype around his emergence as one of the most composed young defenders in South African football. After all, PSL giants Pirates have a title to win, and Seema, the epitome of composure and calm at the heart of their defence, is key to those ambitions.
As the Betway Premiership title race reaches its crescendo, the Pirates centre-back has chosen a quieter path. It is a path built on discipline, resilience, and a deep-rooted understanding of the game that makes the extraordinary look simple.
“Pressure will always be there, whether we play well or not,” Seema says. “I just must continue working hard and improving myself. I want to remain focused and play well.”
On and off the pitch, the 23-year-old exudes remarkable calm, a trait that is unusual for someone who must play in a part of the pitch where mistakes are unforgivable. His unflappable confidence is perhaps why he always believed he could become a key figure in a title-challenging team, even at a young age.
“I wasn’t surprised that I became a regular [at Pirates]. When I came here, I told myself I would work hard, focus on myself, and stay away from distractions. I think that has helped me.”
LEBONE SEEMA’S ROOTS STRETCH BACK TO SENWABARWANA, LIMPOPO
For all the confusion around his surname, Lebone Seema’s identity is unmistakable. He is a South African talent forged in Alexandra, guided by family, mentors and belief.
Though his roots stretch back to Senwabarwana, in Limpopo province, Seema’s story begins in Johannesburg, where he was born and raised after a brief early childhood stay in his family’s ancestral home.
“I come from Senwabarwana [formerly known as Bochum],” his father, Matome Seema, tells FARPost. “Lebone was born in Johannesburg, but for a year, he attended preschool at home in Senwabarwana, before starting school in Johannesburg.”
Even at an early age, Seema’s athletic talents were evident. According to his father, the young Seema’s talents stretched far beyond the football field, and he often found himself juggling a handful of disciplines.
“The boy had so many talents. He knew how to draw. He was also into athletics, long-distance running, where he used to run for his school,” his father recalls.
“So, at that time, I was playing football and we, as his parents, decided to give him a chance and he would decide on what he wants to do or love the most. Then, finally, he said to us that he wants to play football.” It was a decision that would shape the course of his life, as he started to blossom on the football field. With the older Seema by his side, he always had a trusted ally and confidante. Even today, several years later, his father’s advice is still the guiding light for his career.
SEEMA WAS A DEFENSIVE MIDFIELDER
“Most of the time, after his match, I talk with him about how he played, try to show him his mistakes and highlight where he did well, and tell him to keep it up because I also used to play football,” he says. According to his father, the Seema football lineage runs deep.
“In our time, I used to play defensive midfield. Even Lebone used to play as a midfielder before joining TS Galaxy,” his father adds. “I used to play for a team called Rheiland here in Senwabarwana… I also played for Hungry Tigers before moving to Johannesburg.”
Seema’s father says he is struck by how his son, despite being firmly in the spotlight as he turns out for the Sea Robbers, remains the same confident but reserved young man he was before he hit the big time.
That quiet personality masked a fierce competitor that caught the eye of youth coach Thembinkosi ‘Tiger’ Matholengwe when he was barely into his teens. Even at that age, it was already clear that Seema had the sort of drive and determination possessed by few of his age.
“He came to me at the age of 13. He played for my club, Alex Royal Tigers,” Matholengwe tells FARPost. “He was with me until he was 19 years old.”
Over time, what began as raw potential became something more formidable. “When we found him, he was playing street soccer. He played two positions in his entire life, as a central defensive midfielder and as a centre back,” recalls Matholengwe.
SEEMA’S SWITCH TO CENTRE-BACK
At Alex Royal Tigers, Seema quickly built a reputation, but it was at 17 that a decision was made that would shape the direction of his career. After having made his name playing both in midfield and defence, Motholengwe made the call that Seema would reach the height of his abilities while playing at the back.
“I made a decision when he was 17. I said you are going to play as a centre-back in professional football,” he explains.
His youth coach suggests Seema, nicknamed ‘The Lion of the North’ demonstrated high tactical IQ and instinctively grasped the defensive duties of a centre-back, probably because his experience as a midfielder gave him a better understanding of how opponents attempt to break through the centre.
What stood out even then was Seema’s discipline, a rare trait for one so young. Off the field, he was a model professional, one whose dedication took even his mentors by surprise. On it, he was electric, scoring screamers even though he now operated from the heart of defence.
“That boy never missed training or a game. He played every match and every training session,” Matholengwe says. He adds he was therefore not surprised when Seema unleashed a thunderbolt against Orbit College FC early in the season, as he often scored long-range goals for fun for Tigers.
“You saw the goal he scored against Orbit. We were not surprised at all because we know them,” Matholengwe says. “We’ve been seeing that since he was 15.”
Yet the journey to the top was not without turbulence. At 19, Seema transitioned to TS Galaxy’s development ranks, but the experience almost derailed his career.
THE TS GALAXY EXPERIENCE
“Lebone cried in front of me,” Matholengwe reveals. “He came to me and said he had a first-team contract with TS Galaxy, but he was going to quit football if he had to stay there. He was not happy.”
For a player known for his quiet strength, it was a rare breaking point. “As a father, I couldn’t stand my son crying because Lebone is not a crybaby,” Matholengwe says. What followed was a decisive intervention. “I took my phone, called the agent, and said, ‘I’m giving you 24 hours to terminate and give me the boy’s clearance,’” he recalls.
“He asked me what I was going to do with him. I said, ‘He’s my son. I will see what I will do.’”
That era was a rare dark period in Seema’s otherwise sparkling young career. Yet, within a short time, even that situation was resolved. It is then that the unheralded defender was offered to the Buccaneers.
Despite his obvious distress, Ngoasheng insists that Seema’s exit from his previous club was handled with clarity and purpose. “It came at the request of the player who felt he was not getting game time and didn’t see his future there. We did that through an email and were told he was available for sale. I later got a call that he was going to be released. This was in June [2025],” Ngoasheng explains to FARPost.
That move to the Soweto giants, swift and unexpected, would change his life. “He went to the camp in Spain, and nobody knew. We knew,” Matholengwe says. “When he started playing, people were like, ‘Who is this person?’ But we knew underground what we did.”
WORKING UNDER OUADDOU
Behind that transition was agent Malesela Ngoasheng of Mo Sports Global, who saw in Seema not just a player, but a symbol. For Ngoasheng, professionalism extends beyond the pitch. In this regard, Seema can serve as an example to upcoming stars in Alex.
“I want him to take football seriously, like any other 9-to-5 job. I stress to him that you shouldn’t just be celebrated as a good footballer but as a good human being who has been changed by football,” he says.
What sets Seema apart, he believes, is his football mind. “Lebone is originally a CDM; the way he passes the ball and his confidence. He’s probably among the fittest players in the country,” he says. Their relationship is also built on trust. “The family is comfortable with me not just because I’m a family friend, but I’m also a lawyer and an accredited agent.”
Now at the Bucs, ‘The Great Wall of Jericho’ has become a cornerstone of a defence built on unity and discipline.
“We have been doing the same thing from the start of the season, which is defending together, staying compact and putting in the work,” Seema explains.
Working under an experienced figure like Abdeslam Ouaddou, who has played at football’s highest level, has only sharpened his edge.
“I think that’s one of the targets we set for ourselves when the season started. We want to win every game and every cup we compete in this season.” Seema has already achieved cup success by winning the MTN8 and Carling Knockout Cup. He now aims to help Pirates secure their first league title since 2012.
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