Mugeyi: don’t focus on cash
Former Bush Bucks striker Wilfred Mugeyi (right) says a national team’s performance is a reflection of the quality of the players in the local league. Mugeyi runs an academy in East London with his twin brother William, who is also a retired footballer, called the Mugeyi Sports Academy. Wilfred and William hope to unearth the next Benni McCarthy.
The former attacker had a successful run as a coach working for Ajax Cape Town, Chippa United and AmaZulu, Mugeyi has not taken a sabbatical from coaching and is open to offers from clubs in any local league. Mugeyi believes scouting players in rural areas and lower leagues might help improve the national team.
“People choose which games to watch now. It was never like that in South Africa, each match the stadium would be full, whether it was Vaal Professionals versus Bush Bucks, it didn’t matter who was playing. These days, when small teams play, the stadium is empty.
“You ask yourself why. It is the quality of players, and that reflects on the national team. We can talk about players dribbling, showing off their skill in league games, but are these players good enough for Bafana? These days when there is a draw for a qualifier (Afcon), most countries wish for South Africa in their group, it’s embarrassing for Bafana to draw against Seychelles,” said Mugeyi.
Mugeyi noted how money is at the centre of players moving from one club to the next, stating a move should be motivated by the chance of improving as a player.
The 49-year-old says game time was more important to him than a big pay cheque. Sticking with finances, Mugeyi pleaded with players to consider opening a business in preparation for retirement. The former Zimbabwean international successfully ran a college for 10 years in Cape Town with his wife, who is a lecturer by profession.
“These days moves are all about money, we moved to improve our game, I didn’t want to have a situation where I was playing this weekend and then next weekend I wasn’t, that is why I turned down a move to Chiefs and Sundowns, it wasn’t about money, I just wanted to play, I was happy where I was.”
The proud father of three boys has urged players to start planning for retirement while they are playing football. Mugeyi urges players to spend wisely and to be on the lookout for football agents out to make money from transfer fees.
“Football is like life, you don’t know when you will die. You can break a leg and your career is over, from R500 000 to no income.
“A player cannot tell me they are business-savvy, that is where the agent comes in, to help the players prepare for life after football, you can’t show up only when it is the transfer window. If there is no agent, then get help somewhere, ask your colleagues in the team or club management, they are involved in business, they know where to invest their money, if you are serious about creating a second income, you will do it.
“My wife and I didn’t know anything about running a college, but we sat down and planned, we ran it for 10 years, so they need to start now,” concluded Mugeyi.