It was no coincidence that Thomas Sweswe ended up pursuing a career as a professional footballer having grown up just a stone's throw from the popular Rufaro Stadium in Harare, Zimbabwe.
The inspiration to play the game came from watching countless matches in the late 80s through to the 90s with vivid memories of battles involving the big two – Highlanders and Dynamos.
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Sweswe would live his dream when Highlanders calling in 2004 just prior to moving to Manning Rangers.
Then after his season-long spell at Rangers, he found his way to Dynamos.
Yet, that was not enough, his next stop across the Limpopo was at Kaizer Chiefs, signing his contract just weeks before he turned 28.
"Do you think I thought I would end up getting an opportunity at a club like Chiefs at that age?" Sweswe asks, in recalling the Southern Hemisphere winter of 2009.
"We reached the semi-finals of the 2008 CAF Champions League, so that gave me some kind of hope that maybe someone might spot me.
"It wouldn't have really mattered where I would end up, as long as I got a better opportunity outside Zimbabwe.
"That is what we played football for back home.
"I was approaching 28 and knew that this was my last chance to leave.
"Thankfully, my chance at Chiefs came.
"Massive opportunity.
"Chiefs people (Bobby Motaung and Ace Khuse) came to Harare to watch a match at Rufaro, and I was the captain on the day.
"Long story short, we had a meeting at Monomotapa Hotel later that evening.
"Then on the afternoon of the next day, which was a Monday, I was on a flight to Johannesburg to put pen on paper.
"My manager (Edzai Kasinauyo) was based in South Africa and so had already taken care of everything related to negotiations.
"By the time I landed in Johannesburg, the deal was already done, and I just signed before being shown around the Village.
"Clean like that.
"My first time playing in SA for Manning Rangers I was signed after trials, but this time it was just signing because I suppose they had seen enough of me in the Champions League.
"Chiefs signed me without trials.
"The beauty was that arriving at Chiefs was a life-changing moment that I will cherish as the highlight of my career the same way I treasure having played for both Dynamos and Highlanders.
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"I won trophies, played derbies, and made my life better, so I'm grateful.
"Joining Chiefs taught me that you must never give a half-hearted effort on any day as a player because you will never know who is watching," says Sweswe, who now lives in the United Kingdom with his family.
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