Former Kaizer Chiefs and Mamelodi Sundowns winger Thuso Phala has hit back at those who blame former players who are living in poverty.
Phala says as long as Premier Soccer League clubs continue to underpay their players, post-retirement struggles will continue to be a norm in the local game.
"South African clubs are not paying at all, nothing. What they are paying us as footballers, it's not enough," he declares to KickOff.
READ | 'Broos found a diamond' - Doc Khumalo praises new Bafana hero
"There is no way that a player can play 10 years in the PSL and still not make enough money to sustain you for life after football. So, what these clubs are paying us is not enough. Players from Spain or England can play for three years and make R20 million. I understand the public will always have opinions regarding this topic, but there's no way I can be a Kaizer Chiefs or Orlando Pirates player but still use taxis.
"So people should understand that the environment I was in requires me to leave a certain standard of lifestyle. So it's not being wasteful. To get to training, I have to have a car, I have to have my place, I have to have proper furniture. I can't live like someone who is working at Spar or Pikitup [waste management]. Yes, we are all working, but we can't have the same lifestyle.
The former hard-running winger, who also turned out for the likes of Mamelodi Sundowns, SuperSport United and Platinum Stars, says the lifestyle of a professional footballer is more expensive than that of the ordinary man and woman on the street.
"And that's normal. So, people think someone doesn't have to buy himself a car. It's not unnecessary, a car is a necessity. I'm a 24-year-old boy who is earning well, and I'm gonna buy the latest cars, it's normal.
"I can't be a Chiefs player and buy a Mazda 323 or Getz, there's standards where I am. If I'm a Mamelodi Sundowns or Orlando Pirates player, I'm gonna be driving the latest cars.
"So we are not earning enough to sustain us for the next 20 years when we will be without an income. It's not possible. Nowadays, players as young as 33 years old no longer get employed by clubs, and according to my opinion, that's because those players know better in football. Now because they are at the end of their careers, they are going to question the contract offered, they are going to question the terms.
Phala says as an alternative, PSL teams would rather sign teenagers who won't be outspoken about their rights and are just looking for exposure at that stage of their careers.
"They (17- and 18-year-old boys) will just sign five-year contracts without questioning anything. So, if you are a 30-year-old, you will know better that a three-year contract with certain numbers is not enough with you being a starter in the team. But a 17-year-old boy will have no issues with a contract because all he is looking for is an opportunity to play.
READ: Part 2 l ‘Football money must not be a secret’
"So the youngsters, they accept anything that is put on the table, especially now with most teams complaining about the budgets and whatever. And it's not the issue of budget, it's just that now they don't want to spend money on players, they'd rather sell a player for the team to keep running.
"PSL teams now don't want to make money from achieving things like trophies, all they want is to sell five youngsters at the end of the season. That's how they make money nowadays. And come next season, those teams won't even buy one big player with the money they made from selling those players. They will instead promote more youngsters.
"Their mandate is done, they have made R15 million from selling those youngsters, so they don't have to win the league or cups anymore to make money. Their mandate is done, hence you see 30-year-old players struggling for jobs."
You must be SIGNED IN to read and post comments.
Click HERE to register!
