Thabang Johnny Lebese (24 August 1973 – 22 February 2012) was a South African footballer who played at both professional and international levels, as a midfielder.

Thabang Lebese
Personal information
Full name Thabang Johnny Lebese
Date of birth (1973-08-24)24 August 1973
Place of birth Soweto, South Africa
Date of death 22 February 2012(2012-02-22) (aged 38)
Place of death Johannesburg, South Africa
Position(s) Midfielder
Youth career
Orlando Wanderers
1988–1993 Orlando Hotspurs
Kaizer Chiefs
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1993 Kaizer Chiefs B 2[1] (?)
1993–2000 Kaizer Chiefs 219 (75)
2000–2001 Ria Stars 28 (8)
2001–2003 Orlando Pirates 22 (4)
2003–2004 Silver Stars 8 (0)
2004 Moroka Swallows 6 (0)
2004–2005 Black Leopards 5 (0)
2005–2006 Dynamos ? (?)
Total 288+ (87+)
International career
1994 South Africa U23 1[2] (0)
1998 South Africa 1 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Club career

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Lebese played youth football for Orlando Wanderers and Orlando Hotspurs,[3] and professionally for Kaizer Chiefs, Ria Stars, Orlando Pirates, Silver Stars, Moroka Swallows, Black Leopards and Dynamos.[4] In total, he made 279 appearances in the Premier Soccer League during his 13-year career.[5]

International career

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Lebese earned one cap for South Africa in 1998,[4] in a COSAFA Cup match against Namibia.[3]

Later life and death

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Lebese died on 22 February 2012, at the age of 38,[3][6] from an AIDS-related illness.[7]

References

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  1. ^ "FEATURE: Thabang Lebese in his own words - News - Kick off". Archived from the original on 9 January 2014. Retrieved 8 November 2013.
  2. ^ "Full list of all SA under-23 matches" (PDF). SAFA.net. Archived from the original (PDF) on 19 July 2011. Retrieved 28 August 2013.
  3. ^ a b c "Former Chiefs, Bucs star Lebese passes away". supersport.com. 23 February 2012.
  4. ^ a b Thabang Lebese at National-Football-Teams.com
  5. ^ "Thabang Lebese dies". The Sowetan. 24 February 2012. Archived from the original on 2 June 2017. Retrieved 28 August 2013.
  6. ^ "RIP Thabang Lebese". Kickoff.com. 23 February 2012. Archived from the original on 22 December 2017. Retrieved 23 February 2012.
  7. ^ "Thabang Lebese died of 'AIDS-related complications'". Kickpff.com. 5 March 2012. Archived from the original on 22 December 2017. Retrieved 5 March 2012.