Visionary footballer embraces the value of education

With a vision to obtain a higher education qualification, Unisa student and the youngest South African captain in the DStv Premiership, TS Galaxy’s Given “Sgiza” Msimango, vows not to quit his studies even should he explore greener pastures outside the country. He says: “My goal is to finish my current qualification and proceed to a higher one.”

Given "Sgiza" Msimango

Msimango is currently studying towards a Diploma in Business Management in Unisa’s College of Economic and Management Sciences, and aims to continue studying in line with his vision. He emphasises the importance of continuous learning: “Like in football, it is important to learn every day. After every match we play, we do a post-match analysis, so I apply that in my academic career as well. I will never stop improving myself in that aspect too.”

His soccer aspirations started as a passion for playing the game. He says that it was something he did daily, so he cannot really attribute it to one specific event or person. “It was something I loved growing up and as soon as I found out that I can make a career out of it, I put my heart into the sport,” says Msimango.

Acquiring the necessary skills and knowledge

Expressing concern about the trend that most professional footballers go broke after their careers, Msimango is making efforts to not fall in that category. He says: “I have attended social meetings where some former footballers came and spoke to us about this issue. You find that it is not that they were not well educated, but were lacking the necessary financial knowledge.”

Msimango saw the need to take it upon himself to acquire the necessary skills and knowledge so that he can be able to grow the wealth that he accumulates. He states: “I am aware that football is a short career and everyone who partakes in it is passionate, and that there is a lot of money to be made in the sport. However, continuing to study is also about setting up a better future for my family and me. My mind-set is that the knowledge and skills I gain, combined with a higher education qualification, can push me ahead in life.”

Convenience, accessibility and affordability at Unisa

Due to a hectic schedule he had as a professional footballer, Msimango had to drop his BCom Accounting studies at the University of Johannesburg and later registered with Unisa. “It was a challenge being a full-time student and a full-time professional soccer player,” says Msimango. “I often missed classes so I decided to take a study break.”

His sister was studying through Unisa and recommended the institution, as studying through open, distance and e-learning is manageable and online. “I find Unisa convenient, affordable and accessible, and can do my academic studies anytime and anywhere,” he says. “It was difficult for me to spend time with my family as a professional footballer and a full-time student, so studying at Unisa also assisted me to make time for my family. Time management is not an issue for me anymore. For professional sportspeople with hectic schedules like myself, I recommend Unisa as it makes studying easier.”

Leading by example

According to Msimango, what he enjoys most about his captaincy is having the opportunity to influence his peers positively as he strives to lead by example. “Being a professional footballer and a student at the same time are part of leading by example,” he says. “Other people can see that what I am doing is doable. Sometimes I do not have to say anything, they just come to me and ask how I do it and how they can apply, then I just give them the necessary information.”

Addressing the misconception about footballers being uneducated or illiterate, he says: “We are passionate about our craft, however, certain structures have not been created for us to be able to manage professional and academic lives. Soccer is tricky; it is a cutthroat sport. It is not easy to maintain an academic career as it clashes with the sport schedules, hence for me, Unisa offers a neutral base-line to juggle my studies and professional life.”

After retiring from football, Msimango says he would not look for employment. Instead, he intends having his own businesses and entities running. As a strong believer in family time, he further says he will be spending a lot of quality time with his loved ones.

He concludes: “I urge young people and sportspeople to embrace the value of education to ensure a better future.”

*Photos were supplied by the interviewee.

*By Nancy Legodi, Acting Journalist, Department of Institutional Advancement, incorporating an interview by Godfrey Madibane, Broadcast Journalist, Unisa Radio