It’s no longer the case for African footballers to earn money only because of their excellence in football. Some of the greatest football players in Africa have been successful in building companies in various industries like telecommunications, property, and transport.
Apart from being phenomenal on the field, these African greats have proved that they are equally exceptional businessmen. Below are five great African footballers who are entrepreneurs in other ventures apart from being excellent at playing football.
Samuel Eto’o: From Being the Best Footballer to Being an Entrepreneur in Telecommunications
One of the greatest African football players was Samuel Eto’o, the former captain of the national football team of Cameroon. He has built several businesses in various areas in addition to excelling as one of the greatest footballers in Africa.
Eto’o has, for instance, invested in the telecommunications industry and created Itto Telecom, a mobile phone communication company based in Cameroon. He is a great entrepreneur in property and even founded a football school aimed at nurturing talent in African football players.
Didier Drogba: Venturing Beyond Football
Renowned Ivory Coast football star Didier Drogba has managed to venture into different sectors of the economy owing to his widespread popularity.
Drogba, who played professionally for Chelsea FC, has been involved in the media and fashion industries and has stakes in the sports magazine, Onze Mondial. Additionally, he ventured into the mining sector through an investment at the Ity gold mine in Côte d’Ivoire.
The player has succeeded in creating a brand outside the football field owing to his business deals.
Victor Moses: Making Money from Real Estate
Former Nigerian international Victor Moses is among the players who have engaged in the real estate business, which involves investments in property companies.
The athlete has invested in both residential and commercial real estate in various parts of Europe and Nigeria. Real estate has become a means of generating passive income for the footballer.
Property investment has become one of the top methods for ensuring financial stability for sports stars.
Asamoah Gyan: Building a Multisector Empire
Asamoah Gyan, the football star from Ghana, is one of the most diversified African sports figures when it comes to business enterprises.
Some of these business ventures include those in food production, like Mama Vits Noodles, in the transport industry, real estate ventures, and an ambitious one in the airline industry under the Baby Jet Airlines name. Gyan has, in all of his business activities, tried to venture into other sectors through diversity.
Diversity has been very instrumental in bringing about sustainability in his businesses.
Sadio Mané: Investments in Community Development and Business Growth
Sadio Mané, a popular footballer from Senegal, is known to be a philanthropist. However, Mané is also developing a portfolio of business ventures.
These include agricultural business, retail business ventures, and real estate businesses in Senegal. Moreover, Mané has invested in football club ownership by having a shareholding in the French club Bourges Foot 18.
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Conclusion
Football players from Africa are increasingly demonstrating that achievements do not necessarily come to an end once the final whistle is blown. Players like Samuel Eto’o, Didier Drogba, Victor Moses, Asamoah Gyan, and Sadio Mané have become successful entrepreneurs and have been able to accumulate wealth outside their careers in football.
This serves as a great source of inspiration for future generations.
