Brian Baloyi on how grassroots sport helps players build a long-term career

Bundesliga 2 side Arminia Bielfeld launched a partnership with Bolabatha United FC in Johannesburg this month with the aim of developing players in South Africa and also guiding the grassroots coaches that work with them.

Speaking to SABC Sport, Baloyi says programmes like this will help children not only to become professional players but build a career for themselves even outside of football.

“These kids here are privileged in the sense that they are going to be getting top class coaching including coaching from one of the biggest leagues in the world. Coaching methodologies from Germany,” Baloyi said.

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“These kids really have an advantage over a whole lot of kids that are in the townships, and I'd love to really see these kids not taking these opportunities lightly. I think it has to be drummed into their heads, each and every day, how fortunate they are, and remind them of the position they are in and the possibility that anything could happen if only they listen.

“They need to understand everyone here is helping them to be a professional in sport, not to be a professional footballer, to be a professional in sport, and that will be able to help them even if they don't turn professional, they'll be able to take that and become a professional in anything in life."

Baloyi has had a successful post-retirement career, signing different lucrative brand deals even after hanging his boots.

He explains that what helped him build a long-term career was understanding branding and treating himself like a business.

"I'm lucky that I taught myself to understand that I'm a business, so when you are a professional footballer once you understand that you are a business, then you treat yourself as such,” he added.

“Then you start understanding how you carry yourself, you start understanding that your personal brand is important. You start understanding that your brand is your currency. You start understanding that this is what makes money for you.

“Then once you understand that, then you know how to treat yourself as a business and you know how to treat your brand."