Former Bafana Bafana and Orlando Pirates goalkeeper Jackson Mabokgwane has explained why he hasn’t retired from playing despite his recent coaching roles.
Mabokgwane has not been attached to a professional club since leaving Betway Premiership side Richards Bay FC at the end of the 2023/24 season.
The 38-year-old has since opened an academy in Westenburg, outside Polokwane, Limpopo, called Jacco Specialised Goalkeeping Training, which offers one-on-one sessions for both male and female goalkeepers.
Despite also assisting local schools in Limpopo, Mabokgwane recently joined SAFA Limpopo ABC Motsepe League side Phinnet City FC as a goalkeeper coach and assistant coach.
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The former Baroka FC and Black Leopards player told FARPost that, despite being unattached as a player for the past two seasons, he still doesn’t rule out playing professionally again.
“To be honest, that one is a tricky question because in South Africa we don’t retire, we run out of jobs [laughs],” said Mabokgwane.
“So for me, to be honest, I’m just going where God sends me. I can’t answer that because I don’t know what the future holds. For me, I’m just enjoying what I’m doing in terms of coaching and assisting the squad [at Phinnet City]. I’m working with a school called Masiala Independent.
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Mabokgwane added that he leaves the future open and admits he is enjoying various roles outside the field.
“So, I’m just enjoying the role of assisting and helping the younger ones. It doesn’t feel like a job for me because it’s something that I’m passionate about. I’ve got many roles that I’m doing, and I’m just taking it as it comes. To officially say I’ve stopped playing and have no more ambitions to play, I wouldn’t want to get into that because, as I said, I don’t know what the future holds.
“For me, it’s just important to do what is available and what I’m passionate about and of course, there are many other opportunities that are now coming, and there’s also SABC Sport analysis there that I’m doing. So, I’m just enjoying what’s happening, and we’ll see; the future will just take care of itself.”
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