Former Marumo Gallants Coach Takes The Wheel At The Bees
Motsepe Foundation Championship side The Bees have appointed former Marumo Gallants assistant coach Duncan Lechesa as their new head manager.
After securing promotion ahead of last season, The Bees enjoyed a commendable maiden campaign in the second tier, finishing 10th on the log with 35 points.
Lechesa steps in to replace Joel Masutha, who left the club to take charge of top-flight newcomers Kruger United. Kruger United secured their historic step up to the Betway Premiership after sensationally claiming the Motsepe Foundation Championship title last season.
With Lechesa at the helm, The Bees enter their second consecutive second-tier campaign hungry to build on their foundational success and push further up the league standings.
The 49-year-old Bloemfontein-born tactician brings a wealth of tactical experience to the side. He most recently served as an assistant manager at Marumo Gallants, joining the top-flight club in September 2024.
During his tenure with the Bloemfontein outfit, Lechesa worked collaboratively across various technical setups alongside Alexandre Lafitte (24 games), Dan Malesela (17 games), Abdeslam Ouaddou (12 games), Trevor Mathiane (10 games), Sundra Govinder (3 games), and Jamil Benouahi (1 game).
A powerful and commanding midfielder during his playing days, Lechesa transitioned to coaching in 2011 with Carara Kicks. His extensive managerial journey includes notable spells with Polokwane City, FC Cape Town, Sivutsa Stars, Royal Eagles, Garankuwa United, Roses United, and a stint as both assistant coach and academy manager at Bloemfontein Celtic.
Lechesa’s seasoned CV also features head coaching roles at Mthatha Bucks, Free State Stars, Venda Football Academy, and a second term at Polokwane City. Renowned as a versatile team player in the dugout, he has previously served as an assistant to other prominent tacticians such as Serame Letsoaka (28 games), Lehlohonolo Seema (26 games), Veselin Jelušić (15 games), Themba Sithole (1 game), Vladislav Herić (1 game), and Allan Freese (1 game).
