Acclaimed South African footballer Lucas Radebe has added another title to his cap, ambassador for real estate company Jawitz Properties. The former Bafana Bafana and Leeds United captain was officially introduced as the ambassador at an event hosted at the Milkbar in Johannesburg on Thursday.
Radebe said the important thing is to know what to do after retiring as a footballer.
“As footballers we don’t have great reputations when we retire,” the football icon said.
“For us it is about what you learn through the game, it makes us the people that we are.”
“People like [the team at] Jawitz have an appetite for us, it’s all about what you want to achieve after football.”
He said his collaboration with Jawitz will focus on getting people to tell their stories on what makes a house a home, through the #RealLifeRealEstate campaign.
“I have stayed in many houses in my lifetime. From Diepkloof, Zone 4 to Bophuthatswana, all the way to Elland Road in Leeds [England], but for me there will always only be one home, South Africa,” he said.
Jawitz launched an inspirational video of Radebe explaining the trials and tribulations of his journey.
Radebe was the first South African player to captain an English Premier League team when he was at Leeds. After retiring in 2005 he continued to be celebrated especially in England.
Through their partnership with Radebe, the estate agency hopes to attract more clients. Chief executive officer Herschel Jawitz said South African residential property prices are dropping when adjusted for inflation, and it now takes an average of four months for a residential property to be sold.
“For Jawitz, homes are more than just inventory or stock, they represent memories of sellers and dreams for interested buyers.”
“We are delighted to have Lucas on board, sharing his story, in order to encourage South Africans to share theirs.”