HE WAS once pronounced dead but Jacob Tshisevhe is still alive and kicking.

The 43-year-old father of two looks fit as a fiddle and happy with life despite the hurdles he faced after his illustrious football career.

The former Bafana Bafana and Kaizer Chiefs defender once invested in the taxi industry that went under. His restaurant business in Northam outside Moruleng also collapsed.

But Tshisevhe remained positive and did not allow his predicament to pull him down. He is still adamant he will survive in his future projects.

He opened up to Sowetan during our visit to his Sandfontein, Rustenburg, home at the weekend and told us about the challenges he faced in life, his future plans and life as a player.

MCELWA NCHABELENG (MN): You were once reported dead. How did you react to the news of your death?

JACOB TSHISEVHE (JT): The news came as a total shock to me because I was not only alive but healthy. My family, friends and fans were grief-stricken by the news.

MN: How did you learn about it?

JT: I got a call from Robert Marawa of Metro FM, informing me that it was reported on the Kaizer Chiefs' website that I was dead. Like a horde of other journalists and presenters, Marawa was surprise that I was alive. My friends and former teammates also reacted with shock at the .

It was a shock but I remained cool about it. I was not angry with Chiefs and did not want to further entertain the subject.

MN: Rumours abound that you are down and out and that you once eked out a living driving a taxi. Is there any substance to this?

JT: I might be unemployed at the moment but I am certainly not broke. I saved some money while I was still playing and that is how I'm surviving. I also want to make it clear that I was never a taxi driver. I owned two taxis while I was still at Chiefs but the business did not live up to expectations. I employed somebody to run my business because the taxi association did not allow me to run it as I was still employed elsewhere. I also shut down my restaurant because it was not self sustainable. People can say whatever they like about me but I will not destroy me. I will remain Jacob Tshisevhe.

MN: Are you entertaining hopes of returning to the beautiful game in a different capacity?

JT: My passion is about development and I will gladly accept an opportunity to coach the youngsters. I worked as a ball crews coach (coaching ball boys) for 2010 World Cup matches at Royal Bafokeng Stadium and I enjoyed working with those youngsters.

MN: When did you arrive at Kaizer Chiefs?

JT: In 1993. I had attended trials the previous year and didn't do well, but fortunately, I passed the following year.

MN: Can you describe your stay at Naturena?

JT: I was a bit nervous at first because of the pressure that goes with playing for a team as big as Kaizer Chiefs and the expectations were huge but I settled down nicely. I told myself that I was there to work and that is exactly what I did.

MN: Who were you close with at Chiefs?

JT: Lucas Radebe and Frank Makua. We were inseparable. But I also enjoyed Shakes's (Isaac Kungwane) company as there was never a dull moment when he was around.

MN: Who was the best dresser?

JT: Frank Makua. I tried to emulate him by buying a lot of clothes but I just could not match him. No wonder he had many female fans (laughing).

MN: How did you handle fame?

JT: I did not allow fame get into my head and treated people I grew up with respect. I also respected my friends and teammates at my previous clubs at Bopsol (Bophuthatswana Soccer League).

MN: How did you treat women who threw themselves at you?

JT: I must say there were many of them but I did not fall for them and treated them like my fans. Fortunately for me, I had a steady relationship then and that kept me focused.

MN: How much were you paid at Chiefs?

JT: I started at R1200 per month but ended up earning R18000.

MN: Who was your most difficult opponent?

JT: There were quite a few, but Jerry (Sikhosana) was by far the toughest opponent. I enjoyed playing against him.

He was an aggressive player and I was equally aggressive and this made our duel an interesting affair. People came to the stadium in numbers to see how I would handle Jerry.

MN: Who were the best players you ever played with?

JT: Frank Makua, Pollen Ndlanya and Thabo Mooki. Mooki was such a good and skilful player. He might have been tiny, but he was tough.

MN: What was your best game for Chiefs?

JT: They are many but there was one league match against Mamelodi Sundowns where I was outstanding. We won that match 3-2 but I can't remember the year.

MN: Talking about Sundowns, how did you join them?

JT: I was put on transfer by Chiefs in 2001 and Sundowns approached my agent Freeman Bengu.

MN: You played as a left and right-back, centre-back and also as an anchor. Which position were you comfortable in?

JT: All of them. I was a professional and learnt fast to adjust to the positions given to me.

MN: Which coach or coaches did you enjoy working under?

JT: Jeff Butler was a master tactician and I learnt a lot from him. But I also enjoyed working under Philippe Troussier, Walter da Silva and Augusto Palacios.

MN: Your former club, Chiefs, are treading water at the moment and could finish the season without a trophy. What do you think went wrong at Chiefs?

JT: Chiefs, like every team in the world, are going through a bad patch but they will regroup. The current caretaker coaches should be given enough chance at the club. They know its culture.

MN: Do people still recognise you?

JT: Yes, a lot of them do. You will hear them saying this is Jacob, this is Asinamali (his nickname during his heyday). My fans made me feel appreciated.

MN: How do you keep yourself fit?

JT: I train regularly and play for the masters in Tlhabane.

MN: What message do you have for aspiring players?

JT: They should be disciplined on and off the pitch. Most importantly they must arm themselves with education, to have something to fall back on after football, which is a very short career. Investment is also vital.