Former Kaizer Chiefs, SuperSport United and Bidvest Wits goalkeeper Emille Baron has revealed how he fell on hard times after retiring from football.
Baron kept goal 27 times in official games for Amakhosi and enjoyed the form of his life in Soweto Derbies during Ernst Middendorp's first spell at Naturena.
He was released by Chiefs after four years and retired from from football in 2013 at the age of 34 after he broke his leg in a 1-0 defeat to Orlando Pirates while playing for Wits.
The 39-year-old Capetonian, who played four times for Bafana Bafana, also played for Norwegian side Lillestrom before joining Chiefs.
"I retired in 2013 while playing for Wits, aged 34, it was a forced retirement after breaking my shin versus Pirates in April of that year," Baron tells snl24.com/kickoff.
The former Amaglug-glug number one also shares how he got to join Chiefs.
"After spending seven years in Norway my contract was ending. Bobby [Chiefs football manager Motaung] aproached me while I was in Cape Town. It was an easy decision to put pen to paper as I've always been a huge Chiefs fan."
Baron says he enjoyed his football at Chiefs in 2009 and was earning R70 000 a month, the most he earned as a footballer. He admits things are no longer the same now that he is no longer a famous footballer.
"It should have been easy but unfortunately I didn't [save money]. If only I knew then what I know now! Familiar words! Sensitive subject. Since my forced retirement I haven't been earning any income. Struggling with my leg ever since, it's been the hardest six years of my life.
"I've got a loving wife Sheri, two boys Dante and Deandre. When you've lost everything, there is no lifestyle."
Baron, who still lives in Johannesburg, says he doesn't have any regrets in life except being angry with the football gods for letting him down.
"No regrets in football. But angry at the football gods for letting me down, and just forgetting about me. By letting me leave the game that I love in that fashion.
"I got screwed by the PSL insurance big time, so I had to sell all my possessions just to feed my family. Just sold my house now before I lose all I invested in that.
"Thanks for putting me out there again. Maybe people will remember I still exist. Hopefully I can get a keeper coach job offer from someone. Thanks brother. No qualifications but I trained under the best keeper coaches around."