Manyike’s agents, In Touch Sports, announced on September 8 that the 20-year-old was set to join the South African Sevens Academy. He was also invited to a Junior Springboks training camp in February but had to withdraw due to injury.

His contract with the Lions concluded on October 31, but an early release was granted at the player’s request.

Manyike had come through the ranks at the Golden Lions, representing the Johannesburg franchise at U12, U13, U16 and U18 levels. He also captained the U16 team in 2016.

He was named head boy of Jeppe High in 2018. That same year he played for the Lions’ Craven Week squad for a second time and was selected as vice-captain of SA Schools.

A missing person’s report has been filed for Manyike in Randfontein. He was understood to have been last seen in Pretoria North on November 18 with CCTV camera’s showing him abandoning his car. News24 now reports a private investigator was roped in to bolster the search for South Africa's former schools' captain.

Anyone with any information on Manyike’s whereabouts is encouraged to contact the authorities immediately.

The South African