Baroka FC midfielder Given Mashikinya acknowledges that he might not have played for big teams or Bafana Bafana, but he believes football has rewarded him in a different way.
Mashikinya recently signed with Motsepe Foundation Championship side until the end of the season.
The 33-year-old spent the past season at Betway Premiership club Polokwane City. He has also played for Bloemfontein Celtic, Royal AM, Maritzburg United, Sekhukhune United and Cape Town City where he won the Telkom Cup in 2016.
“A lot of people would wonder what have you done in football or what have you done for football because you have never played for the big three or for the national team. But to be honest for me football has built me a life,” he told FARPost.
WHY GIVEN MASHIKINYA BELIEVES FOOTBALL HAS REWARDED HIM DIFFERENTLY
“I might not have won the league, but I have built my mother a house. I might not have played for the national team. But I am owning my business. I might not have played for a big club, but I am driving my dream car.
“It’s not even about what you have done for football; it’s about what football has done for you. I have been a good servant, with discipline and respect for the game and for the people in the game,” he said.
“To be honest, now it’s just about coming home and helping promote our club,” said Mashikinya, who was born in Atteridgeville but also has a family in Ga-Molepo in Limpopo.
“I think my humility has played a big role as well. There were a lot more talented people than me, but maybe my humility was beyond them. But I have managed to squeeze in everywhere because of my humility.”
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