In the latest edition of our feature Where Are They Now, KickOff catches up with former Orlando Pirates player James Mothibi about life after football.
Who am I…
"I'm someone who is from a disadvantaged area called Warrenton in the Northern Cape. Then I moved to Klerksdorp, where my father was working in the mines.
"There I played for Phil Masinga's team Western Aces. From there, I went to Klerksdorp City where I played with the likes of Moses Spandeel and Gert Schalkwyk."
My playing days…
"I'm not happy that I didn't achieve a lot of things in my football career. First of all, my development was late. Remember, I was already 28 when I signed for Orlando Pirates.
"At Wanderers, I was already 24 years old. I'm not from the development structures. I only relied on my talent.
"Yes, I'm happy because they gave me the platform to gain the respect, I get from people today. They gave me to start a James Mothibi Development Academy."
Did you make money from soccer?
"I did not make money from soccer. I only made friends and gained respect.
"Honestly speaking, I never struggled financially, because I was still playing, I never changed the lifestyle I was living as an amateur.
"Professional football didn't change me. Hence, I didn't struggle after hanging up my boots."
Where I'm living…
"In Kuruman in the Northern Cape. I'm not married but I'm staying with Brenda who is my fiancée."
Jobs since playing the game…
"My passion is football, and I've been in coaching ever since. I'm the first in my kasi to promote a team to ABC Motsepe League.
"Even now my passion is in coaching and talent Identification. There's an income I get from my academy through the payments my parents make every month. It's not a lot, because they are just appreciating me for what I'm doing for the community."
If could do it again…
"I won't change much because I believe in myself. It's football that had to change me not the other way round.
"I'd be still playing today if we had development structures. At 28 you are already old in this country. In Europe, a 40-year-old is still playing professional football."