The hard hustle of a former soccer player
Mduduzi Mkhathini used to be a soccer player in the Orlando Pirates junior and at the age of twelve, he traveled overseas to play in the world cup in 1998.
Most have seen him wandering around the streets of Orlando East with his younger brother, but know little about him or his history.
What you know is what your naked eyes see a homeless man or a beggar.
Mduduzi Mkhathini used to be a soccer player for the Orlando Pirates junior and at the age of twelve, he travelled overseas to play during the 1998 World Cup in France.
Makhathini said he got involved with the wrong crowd and started using drugs. Despite being raised well under a privileged family background Makhathini was left homeless, broke and roaming around the streets.
Following an accident that made him land in a wheelchair, Makhathini suddenly realised that he could lose his legs and that meant his football career would come to an end.
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Furthermore Makhathini said that he is willing to better his life and do something positive.
“We portray this image of being poor because times are hard. All I want to do is fix what I failed to do as a big brother and a son.
“I see my siblings living a better life and that is what I want,” said Makhathini.
The former soccer player added that they do not need much from the community but for the community to bear with them and assist them in any way possible.
He said social workers have tried to help them and they have been in and out of rehab centres.
“There were people who used to come bring food parcels at home but they have stopped.
“We cannot continue doing drugs while we are starving as we survive on begging,” he said.
Makhathini said preachers used to come to their home to pray for them but the was no miracle.
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