McNab hangs up his boots

McNab says he is hanging up his boots with ‘a bitter taste’ in his mouth.

“I don’t see myself ever playing again in the professional ranks,” says McNab, who has spent the past 18 months at Orlando Pirates.

“The reason why I don’t see myself playing again is because there is too much politics involved in the game these days.

“Why should I go back to playing when I wasn’t enjoying it anymore? That’s why I thought it better to move away. I feel I played my part and enjoyed it while it lasted. I have no idea what will convince me to go back; maybe a club that really is in need of my services. But I doubt it.”

McNab, who turns 36 on Saturday, has switched his focus to his new project that he has set up in the north-western suburbs of Johannesburg.

“I have opened up my own academy that already has three age groups Under-14, 16 and 19. I work with the boys for three to four days during the week and then on Saturday mornings again. At the moment I am doing it all alone as I look around for sponsors.

“But in the near future I want to also empower ex-professionals who are sitting at home doing nothing. It will give them a chance to pass on their experience,” says McNab.

Three months ago McNab told KickOff.com that he might consider playing for another season after being offloaded by Pirates, where he started one game and came on once as a substitute in his 18 months there.

McNab enjoyed most of his football with the Dube Birds, whom he had joined from Wits University where he made his debut in 1997 after arriving from Scotland.