When putting family first makes sense
The minimum wage earned by coaches in the lower leagues saw former Orlando Pirates defender Bongani Cashibe venturing into business to earn more money.
Cashibe, a curious person by nature started his company Born Catch Services, which works as a sub-contractor in big industrial projects as well as municipal waste removal in the North West. He also created the Bongani Cashibe Foundation, which administers social programs and soccer tournaments in Potchefstroom.
“I wasn’t earning that much coaching in the ABC (Motsepe League), I was looking for something else, I saw a close friend of mine prospering from his business, the lifestyle he lived inspired me to start my own, I researched and shadowed him. I saw how he was marketing his business and earning money from it,” Cashibe explained.
After the former defender was released from Orlando Pirates he decided to invest all the money he had at the time in buying minibus taxis. With the help of his uncle, who is a taxi boss, he managed to register two taxis and grew his fleet from there.
The 37-year-old was preparing to make a comeback to football after eight months of managing mini bus taxis with his uncle, but the unexpected passing of his father derailed his plans as he had to focus on the family’s business interests, as the only son in the family.
“I had a meeting with my uncle and he talked me through the process of getting taxis into routes, we already had two old taxis that I decided to sell and get new ones, it was a great investment as I increased the number to five taxis.
“My father’s passing led to me turning down an offer from Black Leopards so I could make sure everything my father worked for was managed properly.”
Cashibe believes in putting family first in everything he does and says having his loved ones in mind before making any decision has led to great rewards in his life.
“As a Christian I believe family comes first and everything begins at home. When negotiating a contract I always thought how my family benefit from this. Now in business (it is about) how can my family also earn money, which is why the minibuses are now managed by my cousin. It was important to prioritise the family’s finances before my soccer engagements,” Cashibe added.
Loyal to football, Cashibe has enrolled for a coaching course to add on the coaching qualification he already has. He sometimes helps the provincial deaf soccer team to prepare for tournaments.
“I will always be involved with soccer in one way or another. I get great pleasure from working with North West’s national Under-17 deaf team. The misconceptions that exist in our community about deaf people’s inability to do what we can do or participate in the same activities as us is what drives me. Working with them you realise there is no difference.”