Former Bafana star Lerato Chabangu Former Bafana Bafana star Lerato Chabangu is said to be making a lot of progress after entering rehab towards the beginning of last month. Photo: Tony Karumba/AFP
Image: Tony Karumba/AFP
Former Bafana Bafana and Mamelodi Sundowns star Lerato Chabangu is making significant strides in his journey to recovery.
After years of personal struggles that saw his life spiral out of control following the abrupt end of his football career, Chabangu entered rehab in February to confront his battle with drug and alcohol addiction.
The 39-year-old had a long football career, playing for the biggest clubs in the country and won numerous honours. Ahead of the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, Chabangu was considered a shoo-in for selection for Bafana Bafana, but an untimely injury saw him miss out on the tournament.
In the years that followed, Chabangu opened up about how missing out on selection for that tournament led him down a dark path where the only thing that could make him feel better was alcohol.
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After his career ended without fanfare in 2018, his life spiralled out of control and he ended up losing all of his possessions after some bad decisions.
But, after entering rehab earlier this year, Chabangu looks like he’s finally getting his life back on track.
“Lerato is progressing very well. He is responding well to the programme. He has already started to help other patients as well,” Watson Luandi, the owner of the Hope of Achievers Rehabilitation Centre in Limpopo said according to FARPost.
“So he is responding very well given the way he interacts with the professionals that are busy helping him. There is a lot of progress in Lerato Chabangu.”
Luandi went on to add that he wanted to see more former players taking control of their lives, especially those who find themselves exposed to a lot of money.
“… Once they are addicted to drugs and alcohol, it’s very easy for them to be rehabilitated because at rehabilitation, we don’t just concentrate on them leaving the drug. We also teach them discipline, self-control and self-management. There is also a programme that specifically deals with their mind.”
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