Openly gay soccer player Phuti Lekoloane says SA is not ready to embrace gay community

27 February 2020 - 09:57
By Shonisani Tshikalange
'If you come out, you have a lot to lose. I have lost everything that I have dreamed of,' says Phuti Lekoloane
Image: Facebook/Phuti Lekoloane 'If you come out, you have a lot to lose. I have lost everything that I have dreamed of,' says Phuti Lekoloane

SA's first openly gay soccer player, Phuti Lekoloane, says the game is not ready to embrace the homosexual community.

In an interview, he said he wouldn’t advise any soccer player to come out because of the stereotypes attached to the LGBTQ+ community.

The 28-year-old, who publicly came out in 2015, said professional gay players face barriers to make it big in the professional ranks.

Phuti Lekoloane in action on the field.
Image: Supplied Phuti Lekoloane in action on the field.

Lekoloane told SowetanLIVE's sister pubication TimesLIVE he was once rejected by a team in the national first division because of his sexual orientation.

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