“Aaaaace! Aaaaace!” Is all one heard whenever former Orlando Pirates star Oupa Manyisa had the ball
The 35-year-old Mohlakeng-born midfielder announced his retirement from the beautiful game in December 2023.
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OUPA MANYISA, THE DARLING OF ORLANDO PIRATES
Manyisa, affectionately known as “Ace”, started his senior career in 2008 for the Buccaneers. After nine seasons with the Sea Robbers, the midfielder had netted 24 goals and made 226 appearances – according to Transfer Market.
The pint-sized player became the darling of the Bucs fans in the 2013/14 season, walking away as the biggest winner at the club’s award ceremony in July 2014. The central midfielder was crowned the Players Player of the Season and the Vodacom Player of the Season. He also shared the Chairman’s Award with Senzo Meyiwa who was murdered in October that year.
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MAMELODI SUNDOWNS AND RETIREMENT
In 2017, Manyisa left Pirates for Mamelodi Sundowns, but did not make much of an impact. He only played 47 games for the DStv Premiership defending champions and scored one goal.
Three seasons later, injury-prone Manyisa left Chloorkop and joined Tshakhuma Tsha Madzivhandela (TTM) but left the Limpopo club after a month for financial reasons. He joined the Chilli Boys, Chippa United, in 2021, and was linked to Motsepe Foundation Championship side La Masia last year.
Manyisa enjoyed an interesting career, with five league titles including a double treble winner with Pirates. He made his debut for the South Africa national football team in a goalless draw against Sierra Leone in 2011. Meanwhile, his first goal for Bafana Bafana came in 2015 at the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) tournament.
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WHERE IS OUPA MANYISA NOW?
During his interview on the Bettor Pod last month, Manyisa made a startling revelation when he confessed that he never wanted to play football. The veteran footballer further said he no longer watches the sport.
“I don’t watch football. The last game I watched was Orlando Pirates and Sundowns [this season]. I don’t watch on TV, never wanted to play football, I was forced to play at school,” Manyisa said.
“I don’t know but I never wanted to play, the teachers at school [forced me], and when the school lost I would get a hiding, every Wednesday and Friday. And they said I needed to play football because all my uncles did and it meant something [talent was] there,” he said.
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Manyisa, now a businessman, announced the launch of his app in 2022. The former Pirates captain partnered with his former teammate, Brighton Mhlongo, to launch the ‘My Football CV’ app – which allows footballers to be their own agents.
The pair also launched the Manyisa Mhlongo Foundation in 2023.
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Manyisa and Mhlongo told ZiMoja that their foundation had been in existence for a few years. However, they officially registered it in 2022 as an non-profit organisation (NPO).
Last year, the former players went to Lesotho where they hosted over 150 children at the Kick4Life Sports Academy in Maseru for a two-day workshop and life skills initiative. They have also gone to several schools and donated football kits, books and equipment. The pair also conduct life skill programmes, training camps, and partner with other foundations.
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