In the latest edition of our feature, Where Are They Now, KickOff catches up with former Mamelodi Sundowns and Sheffield Wednesday goalkeeper Sean Roberts about life after football.
Who am I?
"Sean Roberts played professional football for 16 years. He retired from playing the game in 2014. He played for Mamelodi Sundowns, Chippa United and Wits."
My playing days…
"I turned pro in 1998, and I retired in 2014. My first professional team was Wits. Obviously, it ended quite early, I could have then still played, to be honest, but I chose the business route for longevity for my family. We've obviously seen some crazy stories with professional players being in some dire forms of living. No regrets, I got to play in Europe I got to play in Asia I got to play in South Africa. I was 32 when I retired."
Did I make money from soccer?
"I made money, I was quite clever with the savings and stuff, I never made money like the Chiefs guys, Sundowns guys now, so it was not going to sustain my life going forward. It was a very difficult decision to retire. Obviously, I loved the game, and it was something that I was good at."
Where I'm living…
"Right now, I'm between Cape Town and Joburg, I'm married I have got a beautiful wife, and I've got a beautiful little boy who is two and a half now. Like his dad, he is very left-footed, but he is showing some interest in goals as well so let's see what happens."
Jobs since playing the game…
"We went travelling for a few years my wife and I, obviously there was some money saved up so we travelled for two, three years my wife and I. I built up a substantial network overseas as well, which is helping my business now. Football has funded my life to a certain point. I never burned bridges along the way, that's why it's easy for me to pick up a phone to call Chiefs, Sundowns and Pirates."
My current job…
"Right now, I'm a sports agent. I look after the footballers; I do endorsement deals. The bigger part of the business is sports sponsorships."I turned pro in 1998, and I retired in 2001".
If you could do it again?
"I think I left Europe too early; I think I left too young. I had a bad injury, and I came back to South Africa for a girlfriend back in the day. If there's one thing, I could change it probably would be that."