Lesley Manyathela

Football player infobox
playername = Lesley Manyathela


fullname = Lesley Phuti Manyathela
nickname = Slow Poison
height =
weight =
dateofbirth = September 4 1981
cityofbirth = Musina
countryofbirth = South Africa
dateofdeath = death date and age|2003|8|9|1981|9|4
cityofdeath = Musina
countryofdeath = South Africa
currentclub =
clubnumber =
position = Striker
youthyears =
youthclubs =
years = 2000-2003
clubs = Orlando Pirates
caps(goals) = 73 (48)
nationalteam = South Africa
nationalyears = 2002-2003
nationalcaps(goals) = 09 0(4)

Lesley Phuti "Slow Poison" Manyathela (September 4, 1981 – August 9, 2003) was a South African football (soccer) player for Orlando Pirates and South Africa.

He made his debut for South Africa against Saudi Arabia in 2002 and earned nine caps in total, scoring four goals.

The striker died in a car accident close to his home town of Musina (formerly Messina), Limpopo Province, South Africa. Before his death Lesley was a top goal scorer in the South African PSL (Pemier Soccer League) scoring 22 goals - (18 league + 4 in cup competitions). this also helped his team, Orlando Pirates, get the league championship honours in the 2002/03 Season. The following season, 2003/04, the top goal scorer award for the PSL was renamed to be the "Lesley Manyathela Award".