Pitso Mosimane has urged Premier Soccer League players to consider moving to the money-spinning Saudi Pro League, encouraging South African stars to be business-minded.
Mosimane has experienced the money-rich Gulf region with Saudi Arabian sides Al Ahli and Abha Club, alongside a brief spell at Abu Dhabi outfit Al Wahda FC.
The former Mamelodi Sundowns tactician is now advising Mzansi players to consider playing in the region where footballers and coaches are well imbursed.
“Kevin De Bruyne said ‘If I sign the contract for two years I will earn money that I have never earned in my career’,” Mosimane said on Metro FM.
“Top boys from South Africa also deserve to be [playing in Saudi]. If you are not playing in the English Premier League and the top leagues, maybe you must go to the Gulf.
“I don’t know if that is a lot of money or not. It is a more competitive league than the DStv Premiership. It is not all about playing football. Do you want to retire without money?
“How many of our players were loyal and worked hard as top footballers who played until the end and retired with nothing?
“You have 45 years minimum to live after playing football. Some players retire without money to sustain themselves.
'You can come home with more than R50 million when you retire.'
Many instances have seen players fail to plan for their financial future after retirement.
“Rodney Ramagalela was never at night clubs. I had him [at Sundowns]. He was running and playing serious football,” Mosimane lamented on Magalela’s situation.
The former Sundowns and Polokwane City saw his home gutted by a fire and struggled to then secure a transfer to a team as the 35-year-old was last seen playing for the University of Pretoria in the 2022/23 season.
“But who cares now? As much as you are playing and working hard, at the end of the day you have children at home who are looking up to you,” Mosimane added.
“They will say you spent your 20 years playing football and trying to make a living, is this what you sacrificed for when you can’t take your children to school?
“Saudi is competitive. Between 40 and 50 000 thousand people are watching. These players are still very good. It is good football and if it was a retirement league, the games would be sloppy.
“You know Cristiano Ronaldo’s mentality – he is not playing football for money to buy Ferraris. He’s got them already. Ngolo Kante is playing, he is in the national team of France. If it is a retirement league, why do they go there?”
GUESS WHO’S BACK…?😎💪🏾#PMSS #PMFC #CreatingThePlayerofTomorrow pic.twitter.com/dB2Lm6H5hu
— Pitso Mosimane Soccer Schools (@PMosimaneSS) June 4, 2024
