Home | Sports | ‘FOOTBALL SAVED ME’

‘FOOTBALL SAVED ME’

03/02/2021 08:49:00 BY PHOLSILE HLOPHE

Font size:

MBABANE – Football gave me discipline, structure and a meaningful life.

It gave me a way out.

Growing up in one of the most notorious townships, Mahwalala Zone Four, where violence, drugs and alcohol abuse are prevalent among the youth, Philani Zwane has football to thank for turning his life around as he moved from being a drug addict to a professional football player. Cigarettes and dagga were his addiction, a habit that did not only affect his academic performance but his life in general.

Waking up to meet his fellow drug addicts, ‘Kasi boys’, and spending a better part of the day puffing on marijuana and cheap cigarettes was his daily routine. He would hang around local shops, begging for coins to get his next fix. The effects of his addiction saw him fail dismally and one day faced the embarrassment of being declared one of the worst performing pupils during a morning assembly at school. “I was a teenager and already living a shameful life but thanks to football for saving my life. The shops were my second home as I was an outcast in the family and scorned for stealing money to satisfy my addiction. I needed help and the only person who could save me was myself,” said Zwane.

reformed

Reality kicked in when his academic dream got shuttered and there was only one hope he could cling onto, his football talent. The reformed player shifted his focus to football following a series of counselling sessions.

He joined Mbabane Swallows juniors, competed in regional leagues until he got recognised by elite clubs. Zwane said he would forever be grateful to the late coach. He worked hard until the late Gcina ‘Magiyane’ Dlamini, who recognised and helped him secure his first contract with Moneni Pirates in January 2020. His contract has been extended by another year.

“I did not go to any rehab centre but the only advice I got from the psychologist was that I must find myself. I knew very well that soccer was my passion because my father grew up playing. The plan was to get out of the bad group of friends and find new hobbies,” said Zwane.

perfecting

As a professional football player, he now focuses on perfecting his talent and follows an individual training programme while anticipating the resumption of the MTN Premier League.

“I take sport as a religion because I find it ethical. A sportsperson follows his path. I had my training programme for off-season. I had to follow a certain routine and even saved money to buy equipment for individual training. I am happy that I changed my life,” he said.

His advice to the youth and soccer players was that they should prioritise things that only added value to their lives.

As a former addict, he advised them to make healthy choices and seek professional help to deal with addictions.

“I want to play to reach my full potential. My dream is to sign for a team overseas and represent my country. After retirement, I would like to do sports management and focus more on being a trainer coach. I would like to own a gym and help people live a healthy lifestyle,” he said.