In the latest edition of our feature Where Are They Now, KickOff catches up with former Black Leopards and Dynamos star Mpho Dagada on his life after football.
Who Am I…
"I grew up in Venda playing football like every other kid. I was discovered by Dynamos through trials. I went to Leopards after Dynamos got relegated. I played for Leopards under Gavin Hunt."
My playing days…
"Sometimes I regret playing soccer. It wasted my time. Maybe it's because I played in Limpopo I don't know. But there's nothing I can point at and proudly say I got this from playing football."
Did I make money from soccer?
"I know there's money in football. And growing up I thought every footballer had money. But it never made any money for me. I felt like I was underpaid.
"I played football from 1997 to 2004, at one stage I fought with David Thidiela over bonuses. We were playing Santos. I was sharing a room with Ryan Hartslief in camp. Me and Ryan decided to tell the guys to boycott the match. We demanded R5000 bonus each.
"After we lost the game through the golden goal rule, Thidiela revisited the bonus issue. Demanding to know whose idea was it. Snitches pointed at me and Ryan. Now because I was black and Ryan was white I had to take the fall. I was fired on the spot."
Where I'm living…
"I'm staying in Diepkloof in Soweto. I grew up here."
Jobs since playing the game?
"I onced worked in a promotion company. A marketing company."
My current job?
"I'm a television camera operator at one of the local broadcasters."
If I could do it again…
"Playing for Limpopo teams. In that province you don't get paid much if you grew up in Limpopo."