Leading lawmaker and agent says SA athletes need education when it comes to contracts

Speaking at the Momentum “women who make moves” Sports Summit held in Johannesburg recently, Mathang-Tshabuse says despite contracts looking intimidating, it is important to know the fundamentals, hence a need for education. 

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Now in its second year, the summit was attended by sportswomen from all sporting codes, including rugby, football, cricket, boxing and swimming.

''They don't even know the fundamentals, education will always be ongoing. The law is always moving, ever changing. We have VAR in football that brings its own rules. Education must be constant and all stakeholders need to be involved,'' said Tshabuse.

Mathang-Tshabuse says that most athletes don’t even bother to read their contracts but just throw it at their managers or agents – and that needs to change.

''They don't read, and this is not a gender thing, it is a language barrier. That we perceive contracts as these intimidating documents that you don't bother to read. Once we get to the contract stage people are so excited to sign and they fail to ask the important questions,'' added Tshabuse.

 The FIFA-approved agent adds that when it comes to genders, it is the males that are leading in terms of having contracts while the ladies are still lacking behind.

 ''It is day and night, chalk and cheese when it comes to contracts between genders. When you look at the male counterpart  they attract far more revenue than women,'' she added

 Mathang-Tshabuse says it is very difficult to regulate the issue of contracts in women’s football, because the Hollywoodbets Super League is not fully professional.