MUSINA - The tombstone of the late Bafana Bafana and Orlando Pirates striker, Lesley “Slow Poison” Manyathela, will be unveiled on September 24 in his home town, Musina.

In partnership with the Musina Local Municipality and Orlando Pirates FC, the Manyathela family is currently preparing the event that will take place at the show grounds, starting at 08:00.

From the show grounds, the people will then proceed to the graveyard, where the soccer star has been laid to rest.

Manyathela passed away at the tender age of 21 on Women’s Day in 2003. He lost control of his vehicle on a sharp curve about 30 km from Musina. Some of the honours bestowed on him include the Musina Municipality’s naming the former 6 000 capacity Nancefield Stadium after him, the naming of the top goal scorer award of the PSL as the Lesley Manyathela Golden Boot, and the former Premier of Limpopo, Adv Ngoako Ramathlodi also awarded him for his soccer prowess, while Orlando Pirates retired his jersey (22). Ironically, Manyathela scored 22 goals during his last season in the PSL.

He started his soccer career at Chelamoya in Musina and was loaned to Dynamos FC before he was lured to Orlando Pirates in 2001. He scored 16 goals in the 2002 season. He played 14 matches for the Under 23 national team and nine matches in the senior team.