Nothing beats coming home after a long day and watching your favorite local and international football team score goal after goal. And here in Mzansi, we have to agree that we have some of the best sportsmen who always leave us proud.
But what happens when they exit the industry or when they finally retire? Well, below is a list of our retired sportsmen and what they’ve been up to off the field.
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Teko Modise
There is no denying that the former Orlando Pirates footie is one of the most acclaimed players Mzansi has ever seen. His career saw him play for clubs such as Rita Stars, City Pillars, Mamelodi Sundowns among others that catapulted his sporting career.
But in as much as it looked like he was making it big, one of his biggest disappointments is not having the chance to play for an international club, something he says was really looking forward to, only for it to be thrown under the rug.
At the moment, Modise is now working for Cape Town City Football Club and was also reportedly venturing into the fashion industry as a side venture.
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Lucas Radebe
The former Bafana Bafana footie remains to be a favorite for many in Mzansi. Affectionately known as “The Chief” Lucas has made a name for himself not only in the local industry but also on the international playground as well and was famously known for playing for the David O’Leary Leeds United FC in the English Premier League.
He retired in 2005 and his prowess and legacy is still being felt and celebrated all around the world so much so that a bus and a beer were named after him. At the moment, other than warming our hearts with photos of his lovely family, Radebe still works as an ambassador for FIFA and also for the SOS Children’s Village.
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Sibusiso Zuma
Zuma’s contribution to South African soccer is one that will always be remembered. Zuma was a star player for the Orlando Pirates before joining the Danish club F.C Copenhagen in 2000.
It was after this that Zuma was sold to a German Bundesliga club in 2005 after five years with F.C Copenhagen.
Years after he retired it was reported that he was going broke and many were left wondering what exactly he was doing to earn a living. He later announced that he was planning to go back to the field but as a coach instead.
And while that is yet to be confirmed, we can only hope that he gets his footing and keeps being the awesome player that he once was.
Cyril Nzama
Affectionately known as Skhokho, Nzama is undoubtedly one of the best players that Mzansi’s football has ever seen. Even after his retirement he remains to be a great inspiration to rising players who look up to him as a mentor.
Having started at the bottom in his career by playing for small local clubs, Nzama is one of the players who actually helped to put Mzansi on the map especially at the international arena. He retired in 2011, having represented clubs such as Butau FC, Rabali Blackpool and Bush Bucks.
At the moment, it is also reported that Nzama is aspiring to be a football coach for his former club and boy can’t we wait to see the great work he will be doing.
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Marks Maponyane
The list would have never been complete without retired soccer legend, Marks Maponyane, who, yes, happens to be media personality’s Maps Maponyane’s father.
He joined Kaizer Chiefs, one of South Africa’s most prominent football clubs, when he was only 19 years old. Three times, Marks was selected ‘Footballer of the Year,’ and you will also be glad to know that he did play for Orlando Pirates at some point in his career.
At the moment, Marks works as a sports analyst at SABC and also worked at FIFA in the same capacity. Not only that he also spends his time doing motivational and public speaking as well as was working as Addias’ South Africa sales executive.
Which of these retired soccer players do you think is the legend of all time?
