Be careful - Goraseb

Namibia Football Players' Union (Nafpu) president and former Brave Warriors striker Sylvester 'Lolo' Goraseb has advised local footballers plying their trade outside the country to make carefully thought-out investments and to be wary of bogus ones.Goraseb spoke exclusively to Namibian Sun amid a rise in footballers losing money and becoming paupers after they hang up their boots.He made reference to South African footballer Phil Masinga who passed away on 13 January without anything to show for his talent.“Masinga was one of those guys who made investments in a certain mine when he was earning big. After he retired he wanted to claim his investments only to be told that there was no money.“These things happen when agents lure players into making bad financial decisions when they see the player has millions. I urge our Namibian players who are fortunate enough to play abroad to be careful.”Goraseb explained that the players' union has structures to help players and call in financial experts, but the battle they have with the Namibia Premier League (NPL), as well as the Namibia Football Association (NFA), has put a dent in their plans to help the players.“For the last 10 years we have been fighting with these administrators so that we can join hands and sign a memorandum of understanding for the better of Namibian footballers, but to no avail.“It is our mandate to prepare players for life before and after professional football,” Goraseb stressed. He said further that once administrators recognise the fundamental rights of players, only then call the ball start rolling to create awareness campaigns and programmes to better educate local players.“We have been in communication with the world football union, as well as the South African Football Union, and they want to help us.“Look at some of our legendary players. See the conditions they live in now; it's a shame and society isn't kind to them. We need to give players basic financial education, even if it's really challenging to tell someone how to spend their money,” Goraseb added.The outspoken Goraseb also advised players to make investments in the country where they ply their trade in, instead of trying to transfer the money back home, as they lose a large chunk in terms of fees. He added they should be careful of “mafia gangs” who try to hijack players financially when they find out that their contracts have ended.“This might sound funny, but it's the reality of football; there are guys out there stealing from players.” Goraseb said the union has sat down with the Social Security Commission (SSC) in order to offer players benefits. “We are working on our side, we however need to join hands and help the players because we cannot approach them with the knowledge that we don't have the right to do so. The players also need to trust us to help them,” he added. Goraseb is speaking from experience as he played for the Brave Warriors from 1996 to 2001, including at the 1998 African Cup of Nations.He is now is fighting tooth and nail for local players' voices to be heard.A player who spend a considerable amount of time in the South African premier league with AmaZulu and Platinum Stars and has Brave Warriors caps, Willem Mwedihanga, said that only certain clubs provide financial advice to players, but that it is up to the player to decide what they want.“Some coaches will encourage you to spend wisely, while others won't. I know clubs like Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates as well as Bidvest are known to do that, as they pay players well.”Mwedihanga added that finance is a tricky issue for players who don't play for big clubs and who are not educated. “Sometimes players move around as they don't get paid well enough and their salary is not fixed like individuals who have day-to-day jobs,” he said.Virgil Vries, who plays for Kaizer Chiefs, said that investing should be a priority for players.Vries said footballers are associated with glamour lifestyles and that spoiling oneself once in a while is fine, as long as your family is well taken care of.Another local player who plies his trade in South Africa for Jomo Cosmos in the first division, Riaan Hanamub, advised local footballers to learn to stick to a budget.“It doesn't matter how much you earn; learn to budget and use the money on needs, not wants,” he said.“Protect and cover your family and be aware of whom you associate with. People are sometimes out to use you, but one should know when to say no. Surround yourself with people who have your interests at heart,” he said.Namibia has a number of players lucky enough to be playing abroad. Players like Vries, Deon Hotto (Bidvest Wits), Peter Shalulile and Denzil Haoseb (Highlands Park), Benson Shilongo (Ismaily SC in Egypt), Riaan Hanamub (Jomo Cosmos) and Tiberius Lombard and Awillo 'Willy' Stephanus (Lusaka Dynamos in Zambia) are playing their trade outside the country.Many more may soon join them, if they stick to hard work and professionalism.LIMBA MUPETAMI

Be careful - Goraseb

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Namibian Sun 2025-01-31

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Be careful - Goraseb

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Namibian Sun 2025-01-31

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