Thulaganyo Gaoshubele, NWU alumnus and president of the South African Football Players Union (SAFPU), is committed to safeguarding the interests of professional football players across their clubs.

 

Born in Schweizer-Reneke, one of the North West’s small towns, Thulaganyo enrolled for a BCom degree at the then University of North West in 1994.

 

The university experience completed him as a person. “I did everything a student could possibly do, from politics to beauty pageants. The mass meetings that used to take place at the Great Hall were one of the highlights of my stay at the university,” he says.

 

“My time at university isn’t just a footnote in my life. Looking back to my student life I have no doubt it’s one of the aspects that shaped the person that I am today. I became more aware of my rights and appreciated the law better,” says Thulaganyo.

 

Returning to greener pastures

 

In 1998, Thulaganyo joined the Black Management Forum (BMF) for a short stint of six months. “Towards the end of that year I called it a day and began a more fulfilling and interesting journey, football.  I played for teams such as Silver Stars FC, Classics FC, Umthata BushBucks FC, Amazulu FC and Hellenic FC.”

 

He hung up his soccer boots at the age of 29 when he joined SAFPU as deputy secretary general in 2004, working his way up to his current position as president.

 

Juggling many balls

 

His role includes acting as chief negotiator for the union, providing strategic leadership, heading the union’s international desk and taking responsibility for organising associations in Southern African countries. In addition to these duties, he is a board member of the Federation of International Associations Footballers Professionals (FIFPro) Africa.

 

Although his football is played off the pitch these days, there is no doubt about his love and dedication to the beautiful game – a passion that was nurtured back in his student days.