‘Make most of your chances’
AUGUSTINE: FORMER BAFANA STAR IS PUZZLED BY THE FACT PLAYERS DON’T WANT TO BROADEN HORIZONS
Former winger says he benefited greatly from Austrian stint.
Bafana Bafana legend Brendan Augustine says he is disappointed by the lack of ambition shown by the current generation of players that choose to stay in South Africa, instead of moving overseas.
The former Bush Bucks and Ajax Cape Town winger agreed to move to Austria to play for LASK Linz in 1996 to elevate his game and take on a new challenge.
“After playing the final of the Africa Cup of Nations (in 1996) I had an option to go and play in Austria. I didn’t know a lot about the place but I went. There were obviously some challenges and the main one was the language. The motivating factor when I moved was to challenge myself, it comes from you as a player to push yourself and want more, but it is not about the money.”
Augustine stayed at home and took care of his newborn son for a year after hanging up his boots at Ajax, who he joined after spending three-and-half years playing in the top tier of Austrian football. The East London-born footballer worked in advertising as a sales representative before moving to his current job as the head of sport at North Riding Secondary School – he is also the coach of the school’s football team. The 46-year-old wanted to spend more time with his family and help raise his children, which is why he decided not to extend his stay overseas. The decision not to become a coach came because it gave him privacy and a chance to enjoy time with his loved ones.
“After retiring I was at home with my son and my wife went back to work. I still had money from my retirement that I could survive on, then after I went straight into working following that year. I started at an advertising company and moved on to do what I do now, I have been at North Riding Secondary School for two years. I didn’t get any formal training for any of the jobs I did, my experience from playing the game helped me get that.”
Augustine has encouraged more young people to take part in sport and combine it with education to increase their number of career paths. As a father, the former winger says parents should be supportive of their children and not harass them into following in their footsteps. He wants to develop stars from young, which is why he coaches at the school.
Football still has a special place in Augustine’s heart, however he says he is out of touch with what is happening in the local league. The former Bush Bucks star was “shocked” by Ajax’s misfortunes at the end of last season. Ajax were relegated after being docked points for fielding Tendai Ndoro in games against Polokwane City, Platinum Stars and SuperSport United, though they have since successfully appealed that decision, leaving their top-flight status in limbo. The Urban Warriors had a poor season, however, whatever the outcome.
“When there are politics in management it filters down to the players. I know this from experience, some of the things that go on behind closed doors show on the field,” said Augustine.