The fat cheque is great, but your careers bear the brunt

But it seems that the money, as good as it is, has stood in the way of a number of players’ careers.

Take a look at a player like Aubrey Ngoma. He, together with Lebogang Manyama, were the most potent players of the inaugural Cape Town City team that took the PSL by storm in 2016. Ngoma caught the eye of Mamelodi Sundowns coach Pitso Mosimane and his technical team. His move to Downs was not one without controversy as City chairman John Comitis lodged a complaint to the PSL against Mosimane, accusing the latter – in what Mosimane comically describes as a “love letter” – of poaching his player.

When Ngoma eventually moved to Chloorkop, he played a few games and was soon reduced to being a spectator, as he hardly made the bench. It is sad to think that a player who once scored four goals against Orlando Pirates and had the time of his life at City, could just be discarded and deemed surplus to requirements.

There is also Jeremy Brockie, he too seemingly jumped ship from SuperSport United for a big money move as he is understood to be among the top earners at Sundowns. He was among the most feared strikers in the PSL when he still donned the blue of Matsatsantsa A Pitori. Well, he did not stick to the script as he flunked when he was given a fair chance, and with Mosimane being the shrewd director that he is, he decided to give the character Brockie less and less time the pitch.

Cue: Oupa Manyisa, the former leader of the Buccaneers, is one case scenario that leaves everyone wondering how on earth a talent of his caliber, with his wealth of experience, could play less than 10 games in such an overloaded Sundowns program in the previous campaign.

The list is endless: Lucky Mohomi. George Lebese. Reyaad Pieterse. Andile Jali.

While all of these players are happy when their phones show the bank notification on payday, their body language is a clear indication that they are not happy to be sitting on bench. I am not particularly blaming Sundowns but it is no secret that they are championing the battle of winning players over by flexing their buff financial muscle.

Inasmuch as we would want to accuse players for greed ad teams fleshing, it is also important to understand that football is a short career and if there is an opportunity for to make great living, go for it. But as you go about your business and before you commit, put your career first. You are a footballer, not a full-time bench warmer or one who has a VIP seat on the stands.

Your place is on the pitch.

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