Bafana Bafana midfielder Lebogang Manyama is grateful be back in the national team set-up after finally overcoming his injury struggles at Kaizer Chiefs.
The forward signed for the Soweto giants at the start of the 2018-19 campaign but had no impact at all as his season was blighted by a number of injuries.
He has, however, regained his fitness this campaign and been one of Chiefs’ top performers, opening up a 10-point lead at the top of the Absa Premiership heading into the international break.
After another big performance against Orlando Pirates last Saturday, Manyama received a late call-up to the Bafana squad with coach Molefi Ntseki bringing in the midfielder as a replacement for the injured Themba Zwane.
Bafana will face a tough away game against Ghana in the opening Africa Cup of Nations qualifier on Thursday before jetting back to South Africa to host Sudan on Sunday at the Orlando Stadium.
Final @BafanaBafana training session before facing Ghana at the Cape Coast Stadium tomorrow at 9pm SA time in a #2021AFCONq pic.twitter.com/BpTzTcPkAr
— Bafana Bafana (@BafanaBafana) November 13, 2019
Manyama, speaking in the buildup to the game against Ghana, says he is looking forward to the challenge of facing one of Africa’s biggest teams.
‘I am grateful to be back after such a long time, all the problems and injuries I had. It is part of life, you never give up, you keep going. And to come back like this in a tough game in a tough place, against a very tough team, one of the biggest in Africa, but I think everyone is up for the challenge,’ Manyama told the media.
‘Obviously I have been working hard to try and help the team and getting myself back to the level that I was before all the injuries. Step by step it is getting better and I want to bring it here but to, most importantly, try to help the team as much as I can and we will see what happens tomorrow,’ the Chiefs midfielder said.
