Former Mamelodi Sundowns left-back David Kannemeyer blames coaches for making him quit the game while he was still at the right age.
Kannemeyer says in South Africa most players are pushed into poverty by coaches who tend to judge players by age rather than performance.
"Cristiano Ronaldo is at 40 and he still running," Kannemeyer tells KickOff.
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"That's the problem in our football in South Africa once you are over 30 you are old you are finished.
"People never give you the next opportunity to play. That's why most of our players over 30 are losing their jobs. It's ridiculous. There's a lot of players in Europe who are still playing at 38, 39, and 40. Why it cannot happen in South Africa?
"Are we that quick to give up on people that got talent and can still give to the game? For the last 20 years, all of us retired early. I was forced to retire I was not gonna get any club to play for again and I just gave up.
"I think it's just a mindset of the clubs and even coaches in South Africa. Siyabonga Nomvethe played until at what age and I think he could have still gone further because he was fit. But he was forced out of the game," the former defender explained.
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"It's the same with Shabba [Siphiwe Tshabalala], Yeye [Reinelwe Letsholonyane], these guys they could still contribute. I was 36 and the clubs were still saying I'm old. It's madness. It's sad because once you are 36, or 37 you are at your peak.
"I think it boils down to both the coach and the management because as a coach if I want a player to play for my team he will play for my team. Brian Baloyi, Andre Arendse, they could still be playing, but you know it's crazy in our country," he added.
"With the younger kids it is all about the money, they don't care about the best that they play for."