SA Football Players Warned Against Festive Tournaments

December 31 - A number of professional soccer players are putting their soccer careers and their own teams at risk by participating in festive tournaments.

The South African Football Players Union strongly condemned the participation of several Professional Soccer League players in tournaments recently, and said that they risk sustaining injuries that will not be covered by insurance companies.

SAFPU was referring in particular to the news that players such as Siphiwe Tshabalala, Jimmy Tau, Teko Modise, Itumeleng Khune, Katlego Mashego and Thuslasizwe Mbuyane took part in festive soccer tournaments in Mpumalanga and Limpopo very recently.

"This is very disappointing," said the spokesperson for the professional soccer body, Cappy Matutoane. "As much as we understand that such players can attract many soccer spectators in these tournaments, they should give thought to the fact that they could pick up injuries that could end their soccer career."

A sustained injury would not only destroy the player's career, but also affect the success of the entire team at large.

Matutaone reminded the players of their responsibilities as professional soccer players.

"My humble plea to these players is that they respect their club's code of conduct and refrain from participating in such tournaments that could destroy their soccer careers," he said.

"I want to advise these players that insurance companies cannot pay for injuries sustained in such tournaments," he added.