Footballer turned television pundit Dikgang Mabalane has been candid in detailing the challenges that greet the end of a playing career.
Mabalane played his last season in the professional game down in the First Division with Moroka Swallows during the 2015/16 campaign as The Birds were relegated.
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This means it has now been almost a decade since ‘Termi‘ made his exit from playing and so is well informed about the transition.
"It hasn’t been easy to get to where I am even if people see me on TV," admits Mabalane, who broke through at Jomo Cosmos and was in the double treble-winning squad at Orlando Pirates.
Mabalane spoke to KickOff.com at FNB Stadium after the launch of SuperSportBet’s new offering centred on the rivalry between Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs.
"Fact is that it is never easy for footballers to have a smooth transition from playing to not playing anymore.
"I don’t care who says what because there are challenges related to adjusting to life financially, emotionally, and all other things that you have to deal with.
"This is why you find that a lot of former players are bitter with how football treated them.
"But it all depends on how you look at it.
"It could be that players have this expectation that football should give back, but it could be that there is something that players are missing, which they could have done while still playing.
"There are all sorts of reasons, but the fact is it is not a smooth transition and most former players are not happy with how the game has treated them.
"This is something that is real that we are facing, and we have a challenge in terms of how to sort it out.
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"It is also logic that the football system will not be able to accommodate everyone.
"You can only have so many coaches, analysts, and so you are blessed if you still end up within the industry and getting paid and making a living from it," says Mabalane.
