Super Eagles forward, Victor Boniface, clarified that despite the common belief that footballers are affluent, many are not as financially secure as people think.
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He pointed out that footballers allocate a large portion of their income to various responsibilities, including supporting family members and fans.
The Bayer Leverkusen player emphasized that unlike many other careers, footballers have a short window of active years due to the sport’s demands, which also impacts how long they can earn.
Boniface shared his thoughts in a recent episode of The Culture League podcast, which also included his Super Eagles colleague, Frank Onyeka, and actress, Jemima Osunde. He stated, “Many people assume we’re wealthy, but there’s not much money in football. Let me explain.
“In the film industry, you can still work at 35, and even find success at 40. However, in football, by 35, your career is typically over. Then you must confront real life. Jemima Osunde commented, “But you [footballers] usually start young.”
Boniface responded, “True, but if you haven’t made it by 25 or 26, it’s tough. In contrast, in movies and other fields, you can enter the industry later in life… Everyone assumes we [footballers] are raking in money, but that’s not the case…”
Osunde remarked, “Even just five years of playing football with a good salary can change my life forever.”
Boniface countered, “That’s where you’re mistaken. You’ll end up spending more. You’ll need to support family and even others. When you travel, you have to set aside money for tips.