Ntuthuko Maphumulo
Today’s soccer stars play for money but the heroes of yesteryear often played to entertain the fans without planning for the future. Top former players are seen today begging on the streets and no one wants to take responsibility for them.
Former Bafana Bafana defender Sizwe Motaung has nothing to show for his years of fame. Motaung was recently hospitalised in Pretoria after reports that he looked like a skeleton, unable to walk and mumbling when people spoke to him.
Cosmos boss Jomo Sono last week staged a benefit game for Motaung in Swaziland. The game, which was won by the All-Star Cosmos players 4-2, is said to have raked in a huge amount to help the former player.
A number of former and current Bafana players visited the player in hospital and some, including Lucas Radebe, Mark Fish, Phil Masinga and Shaun Bartlett, have each pledged to give the bankrupt player R20 000.
A few former players, such as Sono and Kaizer Motaung, have been able to become business and club bosses but many struggle once they have hung up their boots.
South African Football Association (Safa) CE Danny Jordaan says his organisation will soon initiate life skills and financial management programmes to help players adjust to stardom and teach them how to cope with the ups and downs of a soccer career.
Safa provides medical aid for Bafana players and has insurance worth R10-million each if one suffers a career-ending injury while playing for the national team.