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From Tau To Mailula: Looking At SA Ballers With Degrees

From Tau To Mailula: Looking At SA Ballers With Degrees

There are plenty of South African footballers out there with degrees, showing that the football and education balance is not impossible.

Check it out!

What's the story?

Some of South African football's most talented stars have also managed to obtain degrees while actively pursuing a career in the beautiful game, certainly not an easy task.

United States-based stars Cassius Mailula and Katlego Ntsabeleng are among the ballers who have set themselves up for life after football and so has Bafana Bafana's Percy Tau.

Read: Old Funny Lorch Vid Reappears Online! 

Let's take a closer look at active SA ballers with qualifications...

South African footballers with degrees

Local footballers have always been encouraged to pursue their education post matric, even when they start playing professionally, a degree could hold a player in good stead once their short football careers come to an end.

Although more often than not, professional ballers struggle with the football and studying balance, there's a solid number of current SA players with degrees to fall back on. 

Bafana Bafana and Al Ahly star Percy Tau managed to get a Bachelor of Commerce degree from UNISA, while plying his trade in Europe. 

Other overseas-based players like Toronto FC attacker Cassius Mailula and FC Dallas midfielder Katlego 'Tsiki' Ntsabeleng both have sport-related qualifications as a sturdy backup.

Mailula obtained his sports science degree from Tshwane University of Technology (TUT), while Tsiki starting his studies off at the University of Johannesburg (UJ) before getting a scholarship in the US with University of Coastal Carolina, graduating with a degree in Sports and Fitness Administration.

Scroll through the gallery to see the degreed ballers:

Orlando Pirates winger Thabiso Lebitso has a Sport
Orlando Pirates winger Thabiso Lebitso has a Sports Management qualification from TUT.
Toronto FC's Cassius Mailula has a Sports Science
Toronto FC's Cassius Mailula has a Sports Science degree from TUT.
Kaizer Chiefs' Sabelo Radebe has a Marketing in Sp
Kaizer Chiefs' Sabelo Radebe has a Marketing in Sport Specialisation qualification from Boston City College.
Former Stellenbosch FC midfielder Tshireletso Mots
Former Stellenbosch FC midfielder Tshireletso Motsogi has a BSc Engineering: Metallurgy Materials degree.
Bafana Bafana star Percy Tau has a BCom Degree fro
Bafana Bafana star Percy Tau has a BCom Degree from the University of South Africa.
FC Dallas star Katlego Tsiki Ntsabeleng has a Spor
FC Dallas star Katlego Tsiki Ntsabeleng has a Sport and Fitness Administration qualification.

He furthered his studies at Oregon State University, where he caught the eyes of FC Dallas coaches and got drafted in the 2022 MLS SuperDraft, picked 29th overall by Dallas.

Former Stellenbosch FC midfielder Tshireletso Motsogi has a has a BSc Engineering: Metallurgy Materials and is said to be working as a Process Technician in the mining sector.

Newly-signed Orlando Pirates winger Thabiso Lebitso has a Sports Management qualification from TUT and graduated last year alongside his wife! 

Kaizer Chiefs' Sabelo Radebe boasts a Marketing in Sport Specialisation qualification from Boston City Campus, following in the footsteps of Amakhosi legend Bernard Parker who is also a Boston City alumni. 

SuperSport United midfielder Jesse Donn also went the private tertiary route for his post matric education, getting his BCom in Entrepreneurship and Economics through Cornerstone Institute. 

Read: Why Veli Mothwa's Role With Bafana Cannot Be Understated! 

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