Most retired footballers fall on hard times if they have not planned for the future, and a former Bafana Bafana and Orlando Pirates defender has appealed for assistance.
Lucas Thwala is currently retired and featured in the 2010 FIFA World Cup and has lamented the lack of support from municipalities and sports people, as he has struggled to find employment.
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Currently, the 41-year-old is volunteering in the community.
"I am helping people with aerobics. I have been doing it for six years now. I do it for free. I started by doing it at an open stadium but after some time I asked our municipality to help us with the community hall. I can't charge people because if I do that the municipality will also charge me for using the hall," Thwala said, speaking exclusively to the Siya crew
"And you should know that people in the rural areas are not like the ones in urban areas when it comes to paying for aerobics or any other gym stuff. So I just do it to help the community for free. I am not working and I have no income," he said.
"You know what we are doing for Malelane Country Stream League is not work. We are not paid. We are just helping out the boys. There is no work. I am just volunteering. I don't know what more to do. We are not recognised as ex-players. There is no way I can't fit (in) at any position in sports, both at provincial level nor local municipality. Its unfortunate that the young players look up to me and get discouraged about persuing football when they see us doing nothing. We motivate them and tell them that football is a good career but then they ask what has football done for us?
"You don't know how to motivate the youngsters when you are in this situation. The people have been asking for my CVs but nothing comes out of that. You don't know whether they read those CVs or not. Its very unfortunate that they don't recognise you after all that you have done for football. For the sport. Its very sad," Thwala concluded.
