Former Bafana Bafana striker Katlego Mphela has seemingly entered a new career path.
Check it out!
What's the story?
Mamelodi Sundowns legend Katlego Mphela took to Instagram to share with his followers that he's now working at a car dealership.
Mphela's post saw plenty of fans on Twitter/X and Instagram debate on what retired footballers should be doing once they hang up their boots, with many online users praising Mphela for finding this job.
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Let's take a closer look...
Mphela the Killer car salesman
In a successful career that saw him start out at Jomo Cosmos' youth ranks before heading to France for Racing Strasbourg and Stade Reims, to becoming a Sundowns legend and also represent Kaizer Chiefs — it's fair to consider him a modern South African football legend.
His international career with Bafana Bafana saw him make over 50 caps and score 23 goals, including those memorable screamers in the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup against Spain.
Mphela has now taken his killer instinct in front of goal into car sales and revealed over the weekend that he's taken up a sales gig at a VW Lindsey Saker dealership in Midrand.
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The news caused quite a debate on social media, with many praising Mphela for getting a sensible job after football. An IG user commented on Mphela's post, expecting the former Bafana striker to own his own dealership one day:
"I'm giving you 3 years and you better be owning your own branch!!!With your brain, your charm, you network AND the fact that you’re football royalty with an insane number of fans, you better go in there, LEARN the trade and network your way into getting investors for you to open your own branch. Godspeed champ!" wrote @sibumabena, with Mphela replying:
"Let's talk after three years my brother. Thank you."
Here's how Twitter/X reacted to Mphela's new job occupation as a car salesman:
The average retirement age in football is 35, that's 30 years earlier than the retirement age of 65 in corporate. How do we expect football players to sustain themselves and their families for those 30 years when they don't even get retirement benefits or payouts from football. https://t.co/dC19aSZsbT
— Nchema (@ShottaZee) November 11, 2023
The dealership really knew what they were doing when they signed him up as a sales person.
— Sibu Mabena (@sibumabena) November 11, 2023
Look at all this free PR Lindsay Saker Midrand has received over this ???? https://t.co/gmRwS4bZVE
nearly 80% of NFL players go bankrupt two years after retirement - many on high salary deals ????
— Koshiek Karan (@iamkoshiek) November 11, 2023
more athletes need career & entrepreneurship support once they retire ????????
playing careers are short, your earnings window is limited & you don’t always have the best advisors???? https://t.co/l9HvMtGWeU
Imagine judging someone for working. People on social media are weird. https://t.co/rlRavZ9tS1
— SUPER QHWAAA SEASON (@2leestark) November 11, 2023
I find it difficult that one can job shame someone making an earnest & honest living, regardless of what they did before.
— Sibusiso Mjikeliso (@Sbu_Mjikeliso) November 11, 2023
Welcome Ncita, one of Mdantsane's & SA's finest boxers, has worked for years selling Mercedes cars at Ronnie's in EL.
He's still a boxing hero ... https://t.co/EgNAclB34s
You have to respect a man who can recognise the reality he is currently in, makes moves to better the reality and stay out of trouble. I respect him for this. https://t.co/UFzHBVNlJv
— Katlego Mothusi (@KT_M0714) November 10, 2023
Y’all would’ve judge him harder if he asked for hand outs, so I’m glad he’s making a plan for himself. Life is tough, for all of us. https://t.co/OWgu5iNPXk
— Tshepo Ranko (@Tshepo_Ranko) November 10, 2023
Almost 72% of professional footballers globally did not complete education beyond high school and 40% go bankrupt within 5 years of retirement.
— Cash N Sport (@CashNSport) November 11, 2023
To add to this, there is no minimum wage or mandatory savings.
Most retire without education, retirement savings or skills
Good… https://t.co/SFHKtx4tHk
He's probably the best performing salesperson there. Imagine telling your boys you bought your GTI from Killer Mphela https://t.co/LjP0YEZbYc
— Caliban ???? (@Khuze_Elikhulu) November 11, 2023
If I remember correctly, in one of his recent interviews he did mention that he has business ventures with some businessmen. This could be one of them. After all, he has all the time. Him being a salesman is quite smart. https://t.co/2ijuS3dkXC
— Kubo Kubo (@Bantu_Kubo) November 10, 2023
Much respect to him. There’s life after football, and he chose an honest path. https://t.co/6QktoUUdvk
— Neo.? (@NeoMT7) November 10, 2023
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