Football careers can end in a few years, leaving players facing an uncertain future without a steady income. Masters FC is now turning to automotive training to help its players build careers beyond the pitc
Masters FC has entered into a partnership with Chibiso Motors to equip eligible players with practical automotive skills.
The partnership will provide three months of practical automotive training valued at K1.5 million for each eligible player, covering mechanics, panel beating, bodywork and car polishing.
Masters FC CEO Kevin Moyo says acquiring practical skills is important because footballers may have to find alternative sources of income long before reaching the retirement age associated with many other professions.
“You can play two, three, four years and then quit. What next? You’ve got nothing to do,” Moyo said.
He believes the training opportunity could help players prepare for that uncertainty by equipping them with skills they can use to pursue other careers or earn a living after football.
“Now if you acquire new skills, life will not be that hard for you. It will be very bearable because after football you can do other things,” he said.
Chibiso Motors Office Manager Lucy Kampango said the company wants players to gain practical experience in areas that interest them, giving them an opportunity to learn skills that could prove useful beyond their time as footballers.
“If the person is interested in mechanics, we’ll train them in that area. Bodywork, we’ll train them in that area,” Kampango said.
In addition to the training, the monthly Player of the Month winner will receive K350,000, rewarding performance on the pitch while providing an incentive for players to excel.