Ex-Chiefs defender slams retired players for expecting handouts
Former Bloemfontein Celtic and Kaizer Chiefs defender Gary Goldstone says each person is responsible for how their life turns out after retiring from football.
Gary Goldstone and Excellent Walaza during the Absa Premiership match between Bloemfontein Celtic and Orlando Pirates held at Seisa Ramabodu Stadium in Bloemfontein, South Africa. Photo by Lefty Shivambu / Gallo Images
Goldstone admits that it is hard to watch ex-professionals struggling having earned lots of money during their playing careers.
The 43-year-old Winston Park-born former player says club can only employ a handful of players and there should never be an expectation from anyone for the club or football body to educate players on saving money or starting businesses.
“Honestly I don’t think clubs are forced to employ ex-players, they shouldn’t be forced to put skills development programmes in place for players,” Goldstone told Phakaaathi.
“Players need to be responsible. You can’t earn millions in your career and then decide to squander (the money) and you want the clubs and the country to make provision for you after you play. I don’t think that is a fair expectation,” he added.
Goldstone, a BTech risk management graduate, who works as a risk consultant for Hollard Insurance continued: “I am not speaking because I planned properly, but we all need to be accountable for our decisions. You can’t earn over a period of 10 to 20 years whether in South Africa or Europe and then you don’t want to be held responsible when you waste it all, now you want to put it on Safa and you want to blame the club bosses.
“Clubs can’t facilitate the skill development of all the exodus of ex-players, they can’t. So footballers need to understand that you are accountable for yourself. They paid you your signing on fee, they paid your salary and you should have done better with your money.”
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