Former Orlando Pirates footballer Bongani Cashibe has opened up about his humble beginnings in football, and the numbers will shock today’s stars.
Cashibe says his first professional paycheck came at Alexandra United in the early 2000s. And it was nowhere near the six-figure salaries players pocket today.
FORMER ORLANDO PIRATES PLAYER BONGANI CASHIBE TALKS MONEY
“My first salary in football was at Alexandra United, where I earned R1,200,” Cashibe told Kick Off. “This was around the year 2000 or 2001. We were competing in the National First Division,” Cashibe added.
Although it was glamorous, Cashibe said the deal was enough for a young player starting out. “It was sufficient for me at the time. My toiletries only cost R300. I wasn’t sending any money home because my father was providing for the family.
Cashibe remembers that first payday like it was yesterday. Instead of fancy dinners, the celebrations were much simpler.
“That day at the clubhouse, it was cold drink after cold drink, along with lots of snacks. We didn’t cook that day. Since I never had a representative in the early stages of my career, I feel like I never earned what I truly deserved in my football career,” he said.
Asked to compare with today’s football landscape, the former Orlando Pirates tough-tackler didn’t hold back: “I’d be worth R300,000 a month. But knowing football, it really depends on who I’m playing for,” Cashibe concluded.
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