Manqoba Ngwenya chose the right path
Former Mamelodi Sundowns winger Manqoba Ngwenya has always feared having to hang up his boots and the challenges that come with adjusting to life after football.
Manqoba “Shakes” Ngwenya (Photo by Lefty Shivambu / Gallo Images)
Ngwenya is currently involved in schools football and physical education at Prestige College, a private school in Benoni. Away from his duties of training children twice a week, as well as supervising at football games, Ngwenya runs S Miso Consulting which is a construction company based in Johannesburg.
His company is responsible for maintenance at government schools and buildings – Ngwenya’s company has been endorsed by a group of companies in property development.
“I have always had a fear of what would happen when I retired, so I bought two properties as a form of investment and also put my money in a few things to have money once I leave football,” Ngwenya continued. “But then when you are not working anymore, with no income you still need to pay some costs related to the property. I ended up losing one of the properties, I ended up depressed. I tried fighting Standard Bank but I couldn’t afford lawyers and then I lost the property,” said Ngwenya as he noted some of the struggles he endured after retiring.
The 38-year-old says being alone after he was deserted by friends helped him form new relationships that have taught him a great deal about friendship and gaining favour from people who see potential in a person, and who are willing to help.
The Soweto-born former player was on the books of several clubs during his career, and even played for Botswana Premier League clubs Notwane FC and Township Rollers.
Explaining his transfer movements and playing in Botswana after dazzling in the Absa Premiership, Ngwenya says the offers came at a time when he was looking for more than just game time.
“I got a call from Tso Vilakazi, he was already in Botswana at the time. He told me the boss at Notwane wanted us to help him run the team and groom the youngsters who looked up to us as professionals coming from the South African league. So going to Botswana came with the package of learning the administrative side of football, running a club and coaching as well,” explained Ngwenya.
After returning home from Botswana as the top scorer in the Botswana Premier League, Ngwenya decided to retire because he felt his achievement should state his case and he shouldn’t have to beg South African teams to sign him.
Despite his unceremonious departure from the beautiful game, Ngwenya says he will always come back to football in a different role even when his business ventures succeed or take up most of his time.
“There are no limits to learning in property development and construction. So I want to run a football academy, even in the East Rand, around my area. I also want to focus on other sporting codes in my area because there is no focus on other sporting codes here.”
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