One of the most difficult times for footballers is when they are free agents, so how do they survive without a salary coming in at the end of each month?
It's a tricky period, especially if it's not planned for ahead of time. For those who do not save money or have a another form of income from a business, it can lead to financial problems.
Some of the players who are free agents at the moment are closer to the end of their careers, so they have a clear picture of what retirement will look like when there is no salary to rely on at the end of the month.
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Former Orlando Pirates and Bloemfontein Celtic defender Alfred Ndengane has been without a club for over six months, since parting ways with Maritzburg United at the end of last season, after the club got relegated from the top flight.
To his credit, Ndengane put away some money for rainy days and says he has been able to use it as a free agent.
"In terms of surviving, I live on the money that I saved. At least there are some side hustles that I have. It's there to help with school fees for the children and everything else. Finding a team is still a struggle, but I am still trying. If something comes up, it will find me ready because I am training and I play 5-a-side to keep myself fit," he said.
Mzwanele Mahashe, who was with Sekhukhune United last season, has created a real estate portfolio, revealing that he is someone who has always planned for the future.
"It's always tough when you don't have a salary every month. It's something that I prepared myself for. Not only now, but it's something I have prepared myself for from a long time ago, when I was in the peak of my career. That's when I started thinking beyond my career because football is not something that lasts forever and, also, we work with contracts. It's not something that will always be stable, so you always have to think about what's next. Always been scared of what will happen next week, in a year or in two years," the former Baroka FC defender said.
"My wife and I started a real estate portfolio and it's something we are gradually doing. It's what has been sustaining me. It's about preparing while you are playing. You need to know what the next step is because we can't all be coaches or managers of football clubs. It's survival of the fittest when you are not playing. I wish many footballers can prepare themselves because no one prepares you outside of those white lines. I feel that some players have not used football to better their lives beyond their playing days. There are so many things footballers can do while they are still playing and after playing."
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Former Mamelodi Sundowns and Kaizer Chiefs defender Tristan Moses started a marketing agency and creative studio called 21 while he was still at Amakhosi and that has played a big role in making an income for him over the last few years.
"When I was at Kaizer Chiefs, I wanted to establish other business and venture into opportunities and try to create as many sources of income for myself."
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