Cape Town City head coach Eric Tinkler has revealed that former Kaizer Chiefs attacker Lebogang Manyama has featured for his side in a recent friendly.
City ended their four-match winless run in all competitions after coming from a goal down to beat Chippa United on Tuesday evening.
The Citizens lost Surprise Ralani and Fagrie Lakay in the January transfer window and never really got a perfect replacement for the duo, as they only signed Wayde Lekay close to the end of the transfer window.
Khanyisa Mayo and Venezuelan international Darwin Gonzalez have been carrying the team for large parts this campaign, having scored eight goals between them.
City have also added Manyama to their squad, but he has been recovering from his latest injury, which he picked up before he was released by the Amakhosi.
Tinkler now confirmed that the 32-year-old featured for his side in a recent friendly, but he insisted the former City star will only return to full fitness in 2023.
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“Lebo played his first game, how many minutes? 15 minutes against Stellenbosch FC on Saturday, we played them in a friendly,” Tinkler told the media on Tuesday.
“He still feels a little bit of pain in the knee. So I think realistically January, maybe February is the target for Lebo.
“But yes, he got 15 minutes, but he is nowhere near the Lebo that we all know.”
Manyama featured 54 times for City during his stint at the club between 2016 and 2017, scoring 15 goals and setting up another 15.
Story by Sinethemba Makonco (@Makonco_M).
