Effective control is exercised through the Chief Executive Officer, who is accountable through regular reports to the Board. The non-executive directors are considered to have the skills and experience to bring unrestrained judgement to bear on issues of strategy, resources, transformation, diversity and employment equity, standards of conduct, evaluation of results as well as on economic, social and environmental policies.
MANAGEMENT TEAM
Jono Leaf-Wright – Chief Executive Officer
Mr Leaf-Wright has been involved with Montrose Primary School and the educational system for over 17 years and in 2009 completed and passed his CSA Level Three Coaching Qualification. He has been a Cricket South Africa National U19 Talent Scout for 11 years and the Lions U19 Coach for the past 11 years as well.
Mr Leaf-Wright has assisted the Royal Challengers Bangalore in previous IPL’s and Champions Leagues and later was appointed manager of Jozi Stars during the first Mzansi Super League in 2018. An astute businessman and entrepreneur, he brings with him innovation and an entrepreneurial spirit to the union.
Brecht Mohonathan – Chief Financial Officer
Brecht was appointed Financial Manager of Lions Cricket Union in October 2020; he is responsible for the financial management of the Lions Cricket Union.
Brecht is a qualified Chartered Accountant, having completed his articles with EY in 2013. Following this he travelled to Cincinnati on secondment, before joining Murray & Roberts in September 2014, initially as a member of the Group Finance Reporting team, and then the Cementation Mining operations team.
Brecht then joined Alexander Forbes in January 2018, in Group Finance Reporting, before moving into operations. Brecht’s focus at the Lions Cricket Union is on ensuring the profitability and sustainability of the organisation, by balancing revenue streams, ensuring sponsor funding is utilised in the best way possible, along with cost containment within an improved controlled environment with adherence to Corporate Governance.
He is committed to ensuring the Lions Cricket Union maximises its primary asset the iconic DP World Wanderers Stadium as a multi-purpose venue. Brecht is proudly South African, an avid sports fan and a die-hard Liverpool fanatic, and is a firm believer that with the right culture and mentality, our team can be greater than the sum of its parts.
Tebogo (Reuben) Mandlazi – Amateur Cricket Manager
Junior Sport and a teacher at the Ridge School. Reuben comes from a strong sporting background with more than 15 years’ experience both as a coach and an administrator. He has coached cricket at the school/college and provincial levels.
Reuben joins the Lions Cricket Union with an extensive coaching background: Gauteng Girls Coach (2006-2008); Gauteng Women’s Coach (2006-2008); Johannesburg Cubs Head Coach (2007-2008); Gauteng U17 Head Coach (2013) and Gauteng U13 Head Coach (2016 – current).
Reuben was also the team manager for the Gauteng U15s (2009, 2010 and 2014). For six years he was the Head Coach at St Stithians Boys’ College. In 2016 he was nominated as a South Africa Under 19 selector. He was previously also responsible for the overall management of the entire Dobsonville Cricket Club and operations.
Reuben’s philosophy is always putting people first and creating an enabling environment for them to grow and succeed and is also motivated by using sport as a tool for social change. He is also the ex-vice Chairman of Gauteng High Schools Cricket Association (2011-2014).
Reuben holds a BA Hons (Sports Management) from the University of Johannesburg. He is currently studying towards a Masters Degree in Education (Physical Education) at the University of Johannesburg. He also holds a Bachelor of Education (Intermediate and Senior phase) from UNISA. Reuben is a certified CSA coach (Level1-3) and a CSA coach developer.
Asif Khan – Stadium Manager
Asif Khan currently serves as the esteemed Stadium Manager of DP World Wanderers Stadium. With an impressive track record in stadium management, Asif has overseen the successful management of various high-profile events, including the SA20 and the West Indies and Netherlands tours to South Africa.
Prior to his role at DP World Wanderers, Asif held the position of Stadium Manager at Hollywoodbets Kingsmead Stadium in Durban. During his tenure at Kingsmead Stadium, he served as the Venue Manager for the Mzansi Super League and as the Assistant Venue Manager for the Champion’s League in 2012, held in South Africa.
Asif’s passion for cricket management and his extensive experience in the field date back to 2009 when he served as the Ticketing Supervisor for the Indian Premier League. His career at the Kingsmead Cricket Stadium is marked by the successful management of fourteen international tours to South Africa, hosting renowned cricketing nations, including Sri Lanka, New Zealand, Pakistan, India, West Indies, England, Bangladesh, and Australia.
Asif Khan’s impressive career spans over fifteen seasons of domestic cricket, during which he diligently prepared the stage for countless memorable moments in the world of cricket.
Lungile Vilakazi – HR Manager
Lungile is a highly qualified professional with a BCOM Degree, specializing in Human Resources Management, Marketing Management, and Business Management. She has also earned a BCOM Honours Degree, to further enhance her educational credentials. As an accomplished and senior-level HR expert, Lungile brings a wealth of experience given her proven track record.
Her extensive knowledge and skill set enable her to make significant contributions to the success of organizations. Lungile excels in collaborating with senior management to proactively address critical business issues related to workforce development, organizational planning, employee engagement, and productivity improvement.
Throughout her career, Lungile has demonstrated her proficiency in managing various aspects of HR, including talent acquisition, process enhancement, compensation strategies, performance management, succession planning, and the development of both executive and employee personnel.
Lebohang Mokgethwa – Marketing Manager
Lebohang Mokgethwa is a knowledgeable marketing professional, with over 10 years’ experience, who currently serves as the Marketing Manager for the Central Gauteng Lions. She joined the organization in 2016 as the Commercial Property Liaison and later transitioned into her current role in July 2022. With a strong educational background and a passion for marketing, Lebohang brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to her position. Lebohang currently holds NDip (Marketing Management), BTech Degree (Marketing Management) through the University of Johannesburg and has recently completed her BPhil (Hons) in Marketing Management with IMM Graduate School of Marketing. Her skills and expertise include strategic marketing planning, brand management, market research and analysis, campaign development and execution, events management, stakeholder management, sponsorship and partnership activation, team leadership and collaboration.