Junaid Hartley: Former Bafana Bafana and Orlando Pirates Midfield Star Opens Up on Addiction

• Junaid Hartley has opened up on how he battled addiction that eventually ruined his life
• The former Orlando Pirates star was already making it big before he got carried away by fame and fortune
• Hartley has lamented the ordeal, saying 'sleeping with Satan' was an understatement

A former Orlando Pirates midfielder, Junaid Hartley, has opened up on how addiction left him homeless as he became a street beggar.

Hartley battled addiction for several years as he struggled with cat and crystal meth, which eventually ruined his life.

The 5-cap Bafana Bafana star is now recuperating as he begins to rebuild his life with a job in the insurance sector and coaching football.

In a recent interview, the 45-year-old disclosed that he has now been clean for about two years.

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Athletics

He shared insights on how fame trapped him before he was lured into addiction, which later ruined his life. He said via Times Live:

“If I say I was sleeping with Satan, it will be an understatement.

“Within a short space of time, you lose your sanity, and once you look into the mirror every morning and you don’t recognise that person any more you are in trouble. If you don’t recognise what you stand for, everything good you have done in the past is gone, and you will never be able to stand up.

“The only thing in rehabilitation that made me start believing that the miracle is possible was when I went to look into the mirror, and I said, 'Now you can still capture the attention of a woman'."

Footballer, girlfriend arrested

Sports Brief earlier reported that a professional footballer and his girlfriend were arrested at the Charles de Gaulle airport in Paris, France, last year.

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NFL

Jean-Manuel Nedra and his sweetheart were arrested, having been found with 100 kilos of illegal items in suitcases as the former Martinique international and current Aiglon du Lamentin player in their first division was reportedly placed in pre-trial custody on Sunday, January 1.

The player is said to have been travelling in a 'personal capacity' when he and his wife were arrested.