A number of local former stars, including those who made a name for themselves plying their trade in the PSL and The Warriors, have either struggled to make ends meet or died as paupers after hanging up their boots. The Saudi Arabia-based Keutsepilemang Ndebele blamed this largely on illiteracy.
“Lack of education is detrimental to anybody in the modern world and footballers are not exempted from that,” said Ndebele. “Trends have changed and many former players who disregarded their education in pursuit of soccer, which does not pay much in Zimbabwe for a lifetime investment, have died as paupers.”
“Even those few players lucky enough to earn good money after moves elsewhere, seem to go below the level of those of yesteryear, who still played the game just for entertainment. There should be a difference because now, the game has become an industry. It is one of the best paying jobs internationally.”
Ndebele is currently trying to educate players on how to manage their money so that it can benefit them beyond their playing days.
“I have spoken to a lot of players during the last few months, as a voluntary way of educating them on how to invest their money. For those who still can pursue it, I emphasise the need for proper education. One of them came out frankly and told me that players in their prime do not want to hear a word about saving and would brook no advice on how they should use their money. That only gets to haunt them when their career is over.”
Former Highlanders winger, Netsai Moyo, who is now a Post Office Savings Bank Manager, concurred.
“Many of the players, some even better than me when we played, are living lives that are worse today, mostly because they did not plan properly for their future. I did not forsake my studies when I played because I followed good advice”.
“Studying might seem to take too much of one’s playing time, but for a better life, players must dedicate their life to it,” said Moyo.
Despite religious challenges stalling his education background, a member of Johane Masowe sect and Quelaton FC Skipper, Innocent ‘Jocker’ Kutsanzira, agreed that a lot needed to be done before local footballers could become better people after soccer.
“I only went to primary school level because my religious beliefs do not allow us to go to school, but I managed to learn carpentry, for which I am now qualified. I will fall back on that when I quit soccer,” he said.
Post published in: Football