Lekgetho’s interests are his kids and marathons

Former Moroka Swallows defender George Lekgetho put football on the back-burner so he could spend more time with his children. Lekgetho had planned to become a coach after he hung up his boots but the lack of an income at the start of his coaching journey saw him shift his focus to getting a job first at a retail shop and eventually working at a primary school in his area.

“I wanted to coach. While I was at Swallows there was a club I was in charge of and I would go and train them. But I noticed there were no guarantees in coaching once I wanted to do it full-time.

“The lack of proper direction at some lower league teams at the time, having to move away from Joburg to take an offer in Venda and leave my kids, I couldn’t do that so I then decided to get a job at Mr Price and I ended up at Pentarosa Primary School where I coach kids and help with office work and other things at the school,” said the father of three.

The 44-year-old says some ex-professionals are suffering in silence because they are still holding on to society’s expectation of what a famous and seemingly rich footballer is supposed to be like.

Inspired by his father, the fitness fanatic runs several marathons each year. When asked if he still participates in exhibition matches with ex-professionals, Lekgetho jokingly referred to his former football mates as crocks.

“I don’t like playing football with the legends, I don’t get involved in playing with them. I run marathons.

“I took after my father who at his age still runs.

“I have been running the Soweto Marathon for five years now.

“And I have plans to run in the Comrades Marathon next year – I am already preparing for it.

“Even while I was at Swallows when we weren’t training each week I would run long distances to keep fit and I haven’t stopped running.

“That is something I have dedicated my life to and try to keep up with my father by doing it,” explained Lekgetho.

Lekgetho claims some former players don’t want to face the reality of having to call time on their careers and live without the game and so falling into depression.

The Soweto-based marathon runner shared stories from his unique journey after quitting football with injuries stifling his football career.

“I told myself I would not wait for anyone to come and give me something, we cannot all be coaches.

“We will not all be on the field. They don’t want to think of life without football, but you need to move on and look for other ways to survive.

“I used to sell blankets, jackets, tomatoes and potatoes before I got a job in retail. You bought a house while playing but you need to maintain it, buy food and make it a home.

“You can’t wait for help, you put your pride aside, forget you used to be a star and look at your needs and how you will take care of them.”