In the latest edition of Negotiating Behind the Scenes, former Orlando Pirates defender Gora Ebrahim reveals how he was forced to join the Buccaneers.
Ibrahim says he was denied an opportunity to play alongside the Great Lucas Radebe.
Who I signed for?
"I signed for Orlando Pirates. Thirty years ago, we couldn't decide where we wanted to go. We were told where to go. The players didn't have a say.
"I was doing very well at Dynamos in 1992 and Augusto Palacios was at Mamelodi Sundowns and he wanted me to join him there.
"I made the Bafana Bafana team, and I knew Kaizer Chiefs were interested. Remember they were going to play in the Champions League in 1993 and Kaizer Motaung wanted a big squad. He wanted me, Benjamin Reed, Shoes Moshoeu, and Steve Komphela to bolster his team."
How did you find out Pirates were interested?
"When I was with the national squad Phil Setshedi who was an assistant coach said to me, listen, you are not going to Chiefs anymore you are going to Pirates, the deal has already been made, negotiations are done, when you leave here you are reporting at Pirates.
"Remember Setshedi was also an assistant coach at Pirates. I didn't want to go to Pirates. That Pirates were not the Pirates of today. They were disorganised. They were a mess. Irvin Khoza was still green those days he had a lot to learn about being an official, but he had dreams for Pirates."
Where did you meet?
"I met with Irvin in their offices in downtown in Johannesburg. Opposite the Carlton Centre."
Who was there?
"Khoza was with another journalist there the late Sibusiso Mseleku who was waiting for me. Sikhumbuzo Mthembu who was the club's PRO was also there."
What surprised you?
"The fact that there were no negotiations. Khoza just said to me, look, we are going to pay you so much.
"There was no contract, there was no bonuses, no agreement, no signing on fee. it was just that NSL form."
What you would change?
"I would have said, never mind my salaries, never mind my bonuses...what about my medical aid?"