Player Profile: Oageng Lebesane (Virginia High)
Oageng Lebesane, a striker for the South African u17 National Team and Virginia High School, has grabbed the attention of SuperSport Schools Plus and many fans of the beautiful game during an exceptional year on the football field.
Hailing from Bloemfontein, the 17-year-old, born in October 2008, began his football journey at Brandwag Primary School. In 2017, at the age of nine, he received the Player of the Year Award while playing for the school’s u11 team.
From 2018 to 2020, Lebesane played for the Soccer Kids Football Factory Academy. Subsequently, he attended HTS Louis Botha, where he represented the u15 team at one of South Africa’s leading football institutions.
Among his accomplishments while there was being the top goal scorer in both the u15 Nedbank Grey Soccer Tournament and the u15 Free State Football Development Initiative in 2023.
In an interview with SuperSport Schools Plus, Lebesane expressed his enthusiasm for the game. “I enjoy exposing the defence of an opponent,” he said.
“I bring stability to the team with my ability to keep the ball and to win it for the team. In addition, I make killer passes, and I am a very good finisher.”
He said he aspires to be among the top players in the nation, and, with God’s grace, he hopes to eventually play overseas.
In 2024, he joined Virginia Sports Academy and Virginia High, where he plays both club and school football.
Since he arrived in Virginia, Lebesane’s performances have ascended to a higher level.
In March 2025, he was selected for the Amajimbos, the u17 South African National Team, which he represented at the Confederation of African Football (CAF) u17 African Cup of Nations (Afcon), where he made three appearances, turning out against Cameroon, Morocco, and Burkina Faso.
With the Amajimbos having qualified for the u17 FIFA World Cup, which takes place in Qatar from 3-27 November, the Virginia High family is hoping that Lebesane will be included by coach Vela Khumalo.
Since joining Virginia, Lebesane has participated in the Bayhill Premier Cup, in Cape Town, in both 2024 and 2025.
He has also shown off his skills in the Kloof High National Football Tournament for the past two years, helping the team to reach the final in June where they went down to Pinetown Boys’ High after a penalty shootout. Lebesane’s contribution was a mighty 22 goals in eight matches.
Playing for the Virginia Sports Academy, Lebesane participated in the Free State Engen Provincial Challenge and the Engen Champs of Champs in 2024, and he was also in action in the Navalsig u17 Soccer Tournament and the Magnificent Wednesday Schools Football League.
Earlier this year, Virginia Sports Academy lifted the u17 As’Phelelanga Soccer Tournament title. Lebesane, the event’s top goal scorer, led the way for the team, scoring six times and providing three assists in four games.
He also helped Virginia High to capture the title at the Absa Wildeklawer Soccer Tournament and to lift the inaugural Potchefstroom High School for Boys Soccer Tournament title after defeating Clapham High in the final.
Lebesane has furthermore competed in the Brebner High Primo National Soccer Tournament and the Kay Motsepe Schools Provincial Championship.
In 2024, across all competitions, he netted 22 goals and provided 10 assists for Virginia High.
In an astonishing performance, he was involved in 18 goals for Virginia High in August when they overran Reatlehile Secondary 36-0 during a Kay Motsepe Regional match. He netted 10 times and assisted with eight other goals.
The Soccer Manager at Virginia High, Lekhoba Ngakane, characterised Lebesane as a player who demonstrates selflessness.
“He doesn’t have to score himself if someone else is in a better position to score. He will win you a match,” Ngakane stated.
Lebesane remains vigilant regarding the playing styles and movements of the opposing centre-backs and central midfielders, Ngakane said, and he is perpetually proactive in formulating strategies to counter them.
Another of Lebesane’s good qualities is that he is receptive to coaching. He actively listens to instructions and demonstrates a high level of attentiveness, Ngakane added.
“He can use his body to his advantage. He has speed and does not get tired. He can play every game in a tournament without showing signs of fatigue.
“At the Brebner Tournament,” he recalled, “there was a game where we were losing 0-1 before half-time. In the second half, Oageng scored a hat-trick. That’s the kind of player he is. He can take matters into his own hands, but it’s important that he is a team player and recognises the need to feed into a collective effort.”
Player Profile
Full Name – Oageng Lebesane
Date of birth – 17 October 2008
Nationality – South African
Profile
Preferred Foot – Right Footed
Nickname – OG/Osihmen
Position – Striker/Forward
Current Club and School
Virginia Sports Academy (Harmony)/Virginia High School
Previous Clubs and Schools
Brandwag Primary School, Soccer Kids Football Factory Academy, HTS Louis Botha, Free State Football Academy
Achievements
- Brandwag Primary School – u11 Player of the Year (2019)
- Grey College Elevate Tournament u11 Gold Medallist 2019 (FF Academy)
- Bloemfontein Crescent Sports Club Tournament u13 Gold Medallist 2020 (HTS Louis Botha)
- Football Development Initiative Tournament u15 Silver Medallist/Golden Boot 2023 (HTS Louis Botha)
- Youth Cup Grey College u15 Tournament – Silver Medallist/Golden Boot 2023 (HTS Louis Botha)
- Navalsig u17 Tournament – Gold Medallist/Golden Boot/Striker of the Tournament 2024 (Virginia Sports Academy/Virginia High)
- Lejweleputswa u17 Magnificent Wednesday Champions (Virginia High)
- Lwejeleputswa u19 Magnificent Wednesday Champions (Virginia High)
- Free State u17 Engen Knockout Champions 2024 (Virginia Sports Academy)
- Bayhill Premier Cup Knockout States 2024 (Virginia Sports Academy)
- Kloof High School’s National Football Tournament Bronze Medallist and Silver 2024 and 2025 (Virginia High)
- u17 National Call 2025/u17 CAF Appearance
