In this edition of Where Are They Now, former Polokwane City FC defender Sibusiso Mbonani reveals how difficult life has been since he was forced into retirement in 2022.
After leaving Motsepe Foundation Championship, Mbonani tried to bounce back by looking for teams but the age factor prevented him from finding employment as a footballer he says.
What are you up to these days?
"Nothing. I'm at home and unemployed here in Kwaggafontein in KwaNdebele. In June I'm turning 38-year-old. I last played football in the 2021/2022 Season. My last team was Castric Stars. They told me I was old. Those words hurt me to be honest. I didn't feel like retiring from playing."
Your playing days?
"I enjoyed them even though I couldn't stay long enough at the top. I played five years for Witbank Spurs in the NFD, another five years at Polokwane City, at Sekhukhune United I spent one year, I retired at Casric.
"The only thing stressing me now is having to retire, and stay at home doing nothing. There's a lot I want to do in my community but I'm not getting help.
"I need to promote these young boys in my community so that they don't become like me, I was already old when I started playing in the PSL. Them they must young. I'm just waiting for the local municipality to come back to me."
Did you make money from soccer?
"Within the short time I played in the PSL I have managed to do big things in my life. Otherwise I was gonna do more."
Any jobs you've been to since you retired from playing?
"The only thing I have been doing since then is to send CVs to different companies. Life after football is tough when you are not working.
"You survive by begging for R50, R100 to buy some stuff...I'm surviving by chance."
If you could do it again, what would you do differently?
"Whatever money I was spending recklessly I'll be careful. You know when you are a celebrity, out of nowhere someone would call you and ask you to drive to Pretoria just tocsee them. And you would go to them without asking questions. Tell me how much petrol are using? Bengisuka nje ngithwale inhloko enkulu and go to Pretoria, just to chill.
"But we learn by mistakes. You have to burn to feel the pain. Even though it was not that much the money I feel I wasted, it could helped me somewhere."
