In this edition of My First Pay Cheque, former Orlando Pirates star Bennet Chenene reveals how he once finished his entire month's salary in a matter of just one day.
No sooner had the bank notification associated with payday sounded, than the sight of several zeros as his available balance greeted him. Believe KickOff when we say most footballers, past and present, can relate.
Who did you sign for?
"I got my first pay cheque in the PSL at AmaZulu. There was no tax there. I was from Winners Park, where I was earning R2 500 a month. That was in 2006.
"AmaZulu were looking to sign some friend of mine, but what happened is he told them about me instead.
"They signed both of us. Before even negotiations started, AmaZulu chairman Patrick Sokhela sent both of us R10 000 each. He had just bought the Dynamos status. Back then, AmaZulu were still called Zulu Royals."
How much was the salary?
"R12 500 a month. It was a lot those days, I even shared it with my mother."
How did you celebrate?
"I couldn't believe my eyes. The same day, I gave my mother her share and headed straight to this pub in Durban called 144.
"We got wasted that night, we were drunk. I was with my friends from Congo. One of them was my teammate at AmaZulu. There were about six of us. Hayi, sadakwa.
"When we left the pub in the morning, I was penniless, I had no cent in my pockets. I couldn't believe it! I thought I had misplaced my money somewhere. I spent about R3 000 on alcohol that night. I had given my mother her share of R6 000, and I had already bought clothes and a pair of tekkies with the rest.
"That R3 000 was my last money, and it was supposed to last for the rest of the month. But to my surprise, I drank all of it.
"I had to go back to the AmaZulu management and ask for an advance in my next salary [laughs]. The club would then deduct it from my salary."