Daouda Diakite never became a household name throughout his time playing in the DStv Premiership but was able to make his earnings count for good.
Diakite spent two years playing for Free State Stars between 2014-16.
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Prior to arriving at Stars, Diakite played at the 2003 U20 FIFA World Cup in the UAE and then won a move to El Mokawloon in Egypt, after which he moved to Belgium for two years, before a one-year stint in Gabon.
The Burkinabe then went on to play in DR Congo and Cote d'Ivoire, before returning home to Ouagadougou, where he now owns land and property.
"The money at Free State Stars was very good for me," discloses the Burkinabe.
"I left Belgium because I wasn't playing, and the tax was heavy, and then went to Gabon as they were offering me tax-free money by their standards with guaranteed game-time.
"Problem in Gabon was that salaries were not guaranteed, which is why I then came to South Africa with the deal being organised by my agent Michel Sinha.
"With joining Free State Stars, I made it known to them that I will not come for trials after having been to Bidvest Wits and Tuks for trials and then ending up without a deal.
"I couldn't keep coming to South Africa for trials when I had already played at three AFCON finals.
"But then, in the end, Free State was good because they improved my earnings from what I was earning in Gabon.
"I never had any money issues at Free State, which is why I was able to buy land back home and invest in property, which is still giving me income up to now.
"I have started using part of my land for farming, while another portion will go towards starting a football school.
"With property, I have one where I stay while the rest are for rentals with each room at USD100 (approx. R1800).
"Each compound has five rooms and that I have four of them, but the challenge with this business is that not everyone pays all the time.
"Instead of getting USD2000, I normally get USD1200 (approx. R22 000) at best and so my bigger interest will be in the football school.
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"At Free State Stars, there were instances when we got winning bonuses of up to R7000 after having started at R3000.
"That was good money, which helped me to do some of my projects here at home," says Diakite, who was Burkina Faso's goalkeeper coach at the recent AFCON finals.
Diakite is also employed as the goalkeeper coach at top league club Rail Club de Kadiogo (RCK).