Former Bafana Bafana and Orlando Pirates goalkeeper Jackson Mabokgwane has explained why he has not retired from playing despite the recent coaching roles.

Mabokgwane has not been attached to a professional club since parting ways with Betway Premiership side Richards Bay at the end of 2023/24 season.

The 38-year-old has since opened an academy which has one-on-one sessions for both male and female goalkeepers, in Westenburg, outside Polokwane, Limpopo, called Jacco Specialised goalkeeping training.

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 has told FARPost that despite being unattached as a player for the past two seasons, he still doesn’t rule out the possibility of 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 cannot give an answer to 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 from assisting the squad [at Phinnet City]. I’m working with a school called Masiala Independent.

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Mabokgwane says he leaves everything in the future 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 now stopped playing and I’ve got no more ambitions of playing, I wouldn’t want to honestly get into that because like 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.”