In this episode of Everything Counts: Sports Edition, Investec ambassador and SA soccer player for Mamelodi Sundowns and Bafana Bafana, Teboho Mokoena reflects on his journey from Bethlehem to the top of South African football – and the money lessons that shaped him along the way.
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Everything Counts: Sports Edition | Episode 48: How Teboho Mokoena learned to respect money
In this episode of Everything Counts: Sports Edition, Investec ambassador SA soccer midfielder playing for Mamelodi Sundowns and Bafana Bafana Teboho Mokoena shares the money lessons behind his journey from Bethlehem to the top of South African football. A candid conversation about sudden income, financial literacy, money mistakes, family responsibility and building generational wealth.
Learning the value of money early
Long before professional football, Mokoena’s relationship with money was shaped at home. Raised by his mother and grandparents, he grew up helping with his grandmother’s small business selling brooms, clothes and food.
Unlike many children, he was not simply given money – he had to work for it. By the age of 10, he already had a bank account and had started saving money earned from selling lollipops and helping around the house.
“Respect money and it will respect you,” he says – a philosophy that still guides him today.
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When football became a career
Like many young players, Mokoena started playing football for the love of the game. But travelling overseas as a teenager opened his eyes to what was possible.
When he signed his first contract, earning R3 500 a month, the shift felt enormous.
“It was a big change,” he recalls. “From getting R200 from my mom to earning my own money, it was everything.”
Even then, he followed a simple structure: support his family, save consistently and live within the rest.
That discipline became the foundation of his financial mindset, even as his income grew.
Money mistakes and lifestyle pressure
As Mokoena progressed to bigger clubs, including Mamelodi Sundowns, the financial pressure changed too.
Larger contracts brought new opportunities – but also new temptations. He admits to making impulsive purchases, spending too freely and sometimes getting caught up in the excitement of success.
Social pressure also played a role, from covering bills for friends to maintaining a certain lifestyle.
Looking back, he sees those moments as valuable lessons rather than regrets.
Building generational wealth
A major shift came when Mokoena started thinking beyond himself and focusing on family and long-term stability.
His priorities changed from short-term enjoyment to building generational wealth – saving more intentionally, exploring investments and working with financial professionals to structure his future.
“I want my family to live the same way, even when I retire,” he explains.
The financial literacy gap in football
One of the strongest themes in Mokoena’s story is how little financial education exists in professional football.
Many players only begin earning significant money later in their careers, leaving limited time to build lasting financial security.
Without guidance, many athletes are left to figure things out on their own – from investments and taxes to budgeting and retirement planning.
Mokoena believes there should be far more support for young players entering professional sport.
Avoiding the trap of fast money
Mokoena also reflects on the dangers of chasing quick financial wins. During COVID-19, he lost money through speculative investments and now openly warns others against falling into the same trap.
His lesson is simple: focus on long-term growth rather than short-term excitement.
Life beyond football
Today, Mokoena is focused not only on football, but also on creating opportunities for others.
Through his foundation, he supports young talent in Bethlehem while emphasising the importance of education and financial literacy.
He is also preparing for life after football, with ambitions of becoming both a businessman and a coach. Already studying towards his coaching qualifications, he is determined to build a future that extends beyond the game.
The bigger lesson
Teboho Mokoena’s story is about more than football. It is about discipline, growth and learning how to manage success responsibly.
Because in the end, wealth is not defined only by how much you earn – but by how well you manage it, and how long it lasts.
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