New initiative of 12th man comes to the rescue of struggling ex-footballers
JOBURG -– Life after football will never be the same again for Mzansi's former football stars.
The sad state of affairs of life after football for some of the country’s former soccer heroes has prompted sports betting company, Betway, to start a ground-breaking initiative to impart valuable life skills to these legends to ensure they survive the dreaded retirement years.
Known as the Betway 12th Man project, which was launched at Fergusons on 5th in Illovo, Johannesburg, the programme to upskill former legends of the beautiful game will be championed by the former captain of both Kaizer Chiefs and Leeds United in the English Premier League Lucas ‘Rhoo’ Radebe.
The programme aims at providing ex-football professionals with skills to ensure they continue to put football on the table even when they have long retired from the beautiful game, while at the same time giving back to the communities that nurtured them to get to stardom.
Ten ex-footballers both male and female have been selected for the programme to embark on a life-changing six-month journey which will see them graduate with a variety of skills and qualifications to increase their chances of employment.
During this period, Betway alongside the programme’s anchor, Radebe will invite various industry experts from the fields of coaching, broadcast, finance, media and event management to endow the former players with practical skills that they can use to sustain themselves and at the same time plough back into their communities.
Speaking at the launch, Betway’s marketing manager, David Rachidi, said they were excited about the programme as it would impact the lives of ‘our former heroes on the football pitch and ensure they survive life after football’.
“We all know the stories that continue to do rounds on social media about the sad state affairs that some of our legends find themselves in soon after retiring from the beautiful game. I am not going to mention any names here but it is a sad affair and one that needs to be corrected,” said Radebe at the launch.
The programme got underway from 20 February with a two-day skills acquisition course, after which the legends will further upskill themselves with a Safa-D Licence and the Royal Netherlands Football Association coaching courses and be accredited with a Caf/Safa approved entry-level coaching certificate.
They will go on to complete a club administration and project management course that will reveal some of the behind-the-scenes planning that goes with running a professional club, a course which can help them as well to run local clubs in their communities or find employment in the professional sphere.
It is known as the Betway 12th Man because it is made up of 10 players, five females and five males selected by Radebe and he makes up the team of 11 players and the 12th man is the sponsor, Betway. It will be a Gauteng pilot project that is hoped will eventually spread to other parts of the country.
“As a former footballer, I am honoured to lead such an important programme,” added Radebe.
“During our heydays, very few of us had the privilege of getting good advice and as a result, life has been very difficult for a number of ex-professionals.”
“I believe this an important initiative to give back to these legends who have invested so much in the game. Our football is what and where it is today because of the time and effort they gave.”
The former players who will be part of the Betway 12th Man are:
Maimane Alfred Phiri (Jomo Cosmos, Genclerbiligi, Samsunspor, Ajax Cape Town, Moroka Swallows, Supersport United and Map Games founder in Alex).
Andries ‘Chaka Chaka’ Mpondo (Moroka Swallows); Edward ‘Magents’ Motale (Orlando Pirates); Fikile Sithole (Soweto Ladies and Banyana Banyana); Portia Modise (Fortuna Hjorring, Palace Super Falcons and Croesus Ladies); Khabo ZItha (Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies, Soweto Ladies and Banyana Banyana).
Gloria Hlalele (Soweto Ladies); Sibongile Khumalo (Soweto Ladies); Steve Lekoelea (Orlando Pirates, Maritzburg United, Platinum Stars, Bafana Bafana and Mbabane Highlanders); Steve Sekano (Moroka Swallows and the Steve Sekano Foundation).
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