Chronicle Editor
THE development of life skills has been associated with participation in football and other physical activities. A factor in enabling this ambition to be realised is the actions and behaviours of sports coaches.
Firstly, drawing on the concept of positive youth development through football, we must consider the types of environments coaches need to create in order for players to develop life skills.
Secondly, we have to interrogate formal coach education and its role in developing coaches’ knowledge of life skills development.
These two areas reveal that the role football has played in players’ development of life skills is unclear and in need of future attention. But financial management is perhaps one area almost all football players active or otherwise lack.
Clubs, coaches and mentors need to advise footballers that no such thing as imali encane: people must learn to live within their means and make do with what they have.
I mean look at people who are employed to dig trenches! Obviously, their wages are generally low, but they still manage to educate their children, pay rent and other such responsibilities.
Financial responsibility is not a natural phenomenon; it is acquired, people are trained or taught how to manage their finances.
This is most vital for many of us who grew up in the ghettos and have more than a handful of childhood friends. But it is important to realise how much value these relationships add to you as an individual. Players need to understand that they cannot surround themselves with ‘yes men’.
The people you surround yourself with during your productive days as a player must be those that will be available to assist developing you as a person.
I am not saying let’s rid ourselves of these very important people in our lives, but to find ways of cultivating other relationships also.
Some of our friends are with us when we are still celebrities and our careers end these people are nowhere in sight. More so, when we need their assistance in one way or the other.
Clubs and their coaches need to start educating players about fiduciary management and not just a cursory effort. We need clubs and coaches to advise them to appoint financial advisors.
Clubs need to teach players from junior level about saving money. Let’s not just teach them laws of the game, but also social responsibility, let’s find time to help these players understand economics.
We need to take a leaf from Mamelodi Sundowns where Patrice Motsepe has declared that no player must ever be poverty stricken when their careers end.
Clubs have a responsibility to ensure that their players continue to be brand ambassadors for them even in retirement and this can only be achieved if these players know how to leave their lives which should be the responsibility of club management.
From an early age footballers spend most of their time on a football field with their coaches or club administrators even at junior local.
So, it only makes sense that these clubs and coaches be available to provide advice and life skills to these players. To be fair, teachers and coaches are surrogate parents to every footballer and must take responsibility for the actions of these players later in their lives.
A football player’s brand is not just when they are playing but in retirement also. Look at David Beckham, Dr Dre and Michael Jordan who are both still making money even when they not as active as they were or performing. Cristiano Ronaldo will be paid even when he is retired.
All these people I have mentioned were smart enough to know that their careers will eventually come to an end but more importantly they were taught how to do this from early age by their clubs who encouraged them to find advisors.
Players need to impact their communities during their playing days. That’s why our communities don’t care about us when we are retired or struggling.
Don’ts
1. There are things that your club cannot teach you. Our players must understand that they cannot marry slay queens.
Slay queens will just encourage you to do all the wrong things. They need to marry women who will stay even at the worst of times and not run away from you. Women who can advise you as a player. Someone who will say to you “things will be okay” and give you self-belief.
2. Don’t over estimate or under estimate your value. For example, Ronaldo will live well even in retirement because he has been able to value himself and his earning power reflects this.
3. Don’t disrespect the badge because this is what you do for a living: this is where you earn what you need to feed your family.
If you lose respect for the badge, it will lose respect for you. If football puts food on the table, then players must respect it as any other professional would in their chosen field. If you cannot respect your craft, it will not respect you.
4. Players must learn to prioritise and not just spend money on vain purchases. Yes, we grow up wanting the finer things in life, but we have to be smart when we buy the things we have always wanted.
Dos
1. Players must marry well. They must marry women that can be their pillars. Players themselves must empower their wives especially when their finances are still good.
2. Footballers must respect the craft. Footballers must live healthy and make healthy life choices. Players must consider further education towards the end of their careers.
I would like to wish the country at large a Happy Easter. I would also like to congratulate Zimbabwe on attaining 42 years of Independence.
Romans 12:10: Be devoted to one another in love. Honour one another above yourselves.
Peace and unity! And all things football. Until next time. May our Good Lord continue to Bless us all.
Online Reporter