In this edition of My First Pay Cheque, KickOff catches up with former Orlando Pirates striker Reason Chiloane to discuss his first legitimate salary in football.
Chiloane opens up about how he spent a significant amount of his first paycheck on energy drinks when his football career turned professional.
Who did you sign for?
"Actually, we had just been promoted from the Vodacom League to the National First Division.
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I was playing for Garankuwa United, and we had secured promotion via the 2004 play-offs."
How much was your salary?
"It was R3,500. It felt like I was earning R10,000. That was in 2005. I was walking from training to the clubhouse when my phone notified me of my salary. Imagine jumping from R500 a month in the Vodacom League to R3,500. There was a huge difference, and I was really excited."
How did you celebrate?
"Before I spent a cent, I sent R1,000 home. They were shocked because they were used to me sending R500 a month, and now all of a sudden there was more than a 100% increase in their allowance. They felt like I was really working."
What did you buy for yourself?
"I was left with R2,000 after sending money home. I rushed to Studio 88 to buy myself an Adidas t-shirt, the latest one at the time, which cost me R350. I also bought myself a pair of shorts for R200. So in total, I was left with R1,000. My life was starting to change; there was a big difference, and I was really excited.
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That's when I realized I needed to work hard and take my football career seriously."
What about your girlfriend's allowance?
"I gave her R200. At the time, she was still at university, and before that, she was used to receiving R50 a month."
Did the money last you the whole month?
"To be honest, it didn't last even a week. Within five days, I was left with nothing. The fact that I was staying at the clubhouse really helped me. I wasn't a heavy drinker; I only had cider on special occasions. The majority of my money went towards Red Bull. I spent R1000 on Red Bull alone because I bought some every time I came back from training."