In the latest edition of Negotiating Behind The Scenes, KickOff catches up with Enocent Mkhabela, who reveals how he told Kaizer Chiefs football manager Bobby Motaung off over the phone.
The former Kaizer Chiefs player reveals how he cut short the club's football manager Bobby Motaung's phone call after assuming he was a scammer.
Who did you sign for?
"The day I signed for Chiefs I was so excited, I was like a kid who was excited for his first day at school [laughs]. It was during the 2015/16 season. I joined Chiefs from SuperSport United.
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"SuperSport wanted me to stay, but what happened is I signed a pre-contract with Chiefs. SuperSport were slow in our negotiations in my last six months."
How did you find out?
"I remember I was at SuperSport and preparing for a Nedbank Cup final when my then agent, Tim Sukazi, informed me that Bobby Motaung was interested in me. He told me to go to Chiefs to sign a pre-contract.
"Later on in the evening, 'Bobsteak' called me on my phone, but I didn't believe it was him. I thought it was someone pretending to be him. I thought it was one of the scammers who was pretending to be Bobby.
"So, my response to him was, 'Hey you chancer, don't take chances with me! You think I don't know that you are a scam? I've heard about people like you who go around scamming unsuspecting soccer players, so please don't pretend to be someone you are not.' I said all that not knowing I was actually speaking to Bobby [laughs].
"The next day, Tim Sukazi said to me, 'Hey man, Bobby says he called you and you told him things that didn't make sense.' I was shocked, the thing is I never imagined Bobby phoning someone like me directly [laughs]. From there, I met Bobby, and a deal was signed in Johannesburg."
Where did you meet?
"Everything took place in Sandton in Johannesburg, at the offices of Quality Talent Sports."
Who was there?
"It was only me, Bobby and Tim Sukazi. I ended up not playing in the Nedbank Cup final, I watched the match from the VIP area. I was not part of the SuperSport United 18-man squad that day. Because of the pre-contract I had signed with Chiefs, I was taken out of the team."
What surprised you?
"Nothing surprised me, to be honest. Obviously the figures were better than what I used to be paid at SuperSport United. I was excited to have signed on the dotted line with Kaizer Chiefs. My Mom and Dad cried tears of joy."
Did you get what you wanted?
"Yes, I did get everything I was promised."
Did you see out the contract?
"No, I didn't. Even though I had signed for five years, because of an injury I only stayed a season. I was then loaned to Platinum Stars."
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What you would change?
"Nothing. I'm happy with both the offer and the contract Kaizer Chiefs gave me."