In the latest edition of our feature, Where Are They Now, KickOff catches up with Free State Stars legend Themba Sithole on life after football.
Who am I...
"I'm a retired professional footballer, I started my career back in 1986 at Bloemfontein Celtic and moved to Qwaqwa in 1989, where I remained at Free State Stars for 33 years. I'm originally from Inanda in Durban."
My playing days...
"I played as a centre-back, and my duty was to take care of all the dangerous strikers like Marks Maponyane, Mike Mangena and Panyaza Chitja. Steve Khompela played alongside me as a sweeper, and his job was easy."
Did I make money from soccer?
"I think the money was good because back then, life was simpler. There was no money, it was just about passion. You played to represent your family and to make a name for yourself. After I retired, I did coaching courses, but when I finished my level 2 and was about to do my level 3, they said they want one candidate per team, and they took Steve Khompela
"That forced me to spend a lot of money travelling to London to do my courses. I did my UEFA B license at the David Beckham Academy."
Where I'm living?
"My home is in Bloemfontein, I bought a house over there when I finished my career with Bloemfontein Celtic, here in Johannesburg I live in Modderfontein."
Jobs since playing the game?
"I have always been scouting amateur players and turning them into professionals. Jimmy Kauleza, Hleza Mofedi, Gert Schalkwyk, Nkosana Xaba, David Radebe. That is the first group I brought into football.
"After that group, I introduced the likes of Siphiwe Tshabalala, Sithembiso Ngcobo and Kingston Nkhatha. I also specialised a lot in international scouting bringing to South Africa the likes of Kennedy Mweene and Dove Wome."
My current job...
"I'm the technical director of Sekhukhune United. I was at the Afcon in Cameroon scouting, trying to build our database. I'll be going to Europe pretty soon as we're looking to sign a couple of players there. I also do a lot of scouting in the country. Being a technical director, I'm in charge of the senior team and also the DDC team, and we also have another team in the ABC Motsepe League, I'm working hand in hand with coach Thabo Senong. We want to avoid buying players."
If I could do it again...
"I think as a player, I've done a lot. I think I've done everything that was possible. I played for only two teams, but there are no regrets, those two teams built the big man that I am today."