Lucky Lekgwathi Encourages Footballers to Save Money While They Still Can!

Lucky Lekgwathi Encourages Footballers to Save Money While They Still Can! The former Orlando Pirates defender has endured an eventful period post retirement.

Lucky Lekgwathi invested in opening quite a few businesses after hanging up his soccer boots. He has stressed the importance of saving money while still earning large salaries.

The former defender opened the popular and famous Grootman Restaurant in Kliptown last year. This is one of the many businesses he began after retiring.

He also dabbled in fashion, creating his own brand called Fantastic14.

“As a footballer, when you are at your peak, you need to remember that you won’t play forever, and that’s what we struggle to understand,” Lekgwathi told Daily Sun in an interview.

“I was lucky to have people around me who told me early on that I needed to prepare for life after football. I had people like Dr Khoza and Mme Ria Ledwaba who guided me well in terms of managing my finances.

“I listened to all the advice that I was receiving, even from my close family and friends. The one thing they all kept telling me was that I needed to start my own businesses to ensure that I continue to make an income after I retire.

“I believe I made a lot of sacrifices even in my playing days to ensure I had a bright future after football. I didn’t drive fancy cars, I drove a bakkie.

“I didn’t like to rent expensive apartments, I wanted to own my own house. I didn’t go out partying a lot, I didn’t spend unnecessarily.

“We try to speak to these guys, but they don’t listen.

“They will tell you that ‘you’ve had your time, it’s our turn to enjoy now’, and it’s quite sad because we know how it ends” the entrepreneur said.

Lekgwathi recently moved his Grootman restaurant from Kliptown to Southdale. Lucky Lekgwathi Encourages Footballers to Save Money While They Still Can!