I thought to wait it out a little bit before dropping this column, ouens.
We South Africans can get very touchy when one swings a trending topic against the trend, sien jy?
We all received with shock and sadness the news of young Wiseman Meyiwa’s forced retirement because of injury.
My immediate reaction was that I hoped the kid had some kind of financial policy in place to cover him while he considers his options outside of the football pitch.
I also read the news of commitment to support the former SA youth international from his club Kaizer Chiefs, which is great.
FUNDING: Bobby Motaung. Photo: MUZI NTOMBELA/BACKPAGEPIX
I must add that I expected a much bigger contribution from Amakhosi since they already have an insurance partner in Hollard.
I mean this, was an opportunity to show the true value and benefits for footballers to take up some kind of policy.
We’ve cried for a long time about footballers who retire and struggle to make ends meet.
The struggles of families to take care of footballers when their careers end too soon are well documented.
MURDERED: Senzo Meyiwa. Photo: SAMUEL SHIVAMBU/ BACKPAGEPIX
I don’t even want to get into the challenges families face when they have to lay them to rest.
So here is a young man, who had a car accident that has ended his football career.
Was he covered?
If yes, great, let him be a living example to inspire those who have ambitions of pursuing a career in football.
If he wasn’t covered?
Why and what can be learned from this unfortunate incident?
We have to get to a stage where we don’t even have to discuss this, where a SA footballer’s career is structured in a way that he has a retirement fund and/or life or funeral policy that is managed independently.
TRAGEDY: Ajax's Cecil Lolo. Photo: RYAN WILKISKY/BACKPAGEPIX
We already have South African Football Professionals Union (SAFPU), but apparently, they have these kind of ideas and policy partnerships in place, and it is optional for footballers and players choose not to take up these benefits.
Vuka wena(wake up you) football player, get your affairs in order.