In this edition of My First Pay Cheque, KickOff catches up with former Orlando Pirates and Jomo Cosmos player Sibusiso Mhlongo.
Mhlongo who went on to star for the likes of Jomo Cosmos explains how R1000 in cash changed his parents' mind.
Who did you sign for?
"My first professional team was Orlando Pirates. I joined Jomo Cosmos from Pirates. I stayed with Pirates from 1995 to 1997.
"I was from a Nelspruit-based team Black Swallows when I signed for Pirates, in fact, Kenny Ndlazi is the one who spotted me and recommended me to Moroka Swallows.
"I was supposed to join Swallows but by then Swallows had financial problems so I couldn't go there. Those were the days of David 'Pine' Chabeli.
"Fortunately, my mother who was staying in Daveyton, and her neighbour was Sister Monica [Lawrence Siyangaphi].
"My mother spoke to Sister Monica, and what happened next is Sister Monica took me to Jomo Cosmos.
"When I was about to put pen to paper at Cosmos, Orlando Pirates came out of nowhere. As you know, money talks regards to everything.
"Andries Maseko and Banana Mahlangu who were close to Irvin Khoza gave my mother a lot of R10 notes. In total those notes were R1000.
"That was a lot of money in 1995. I signed a two-year contract with Pirates, I spent two years there."
How much was it?
"My first salary was R2 000. It was a lot, plus money for accommodation and school fees…first, they gave me an R10 000 cheque to buy everything that I need."
How I celebrated?
"I went straight to the shops to buy clothes because at the time I didn't even have a jockey [underwear).
"I went to John Craig and bought almost everything. All of a sudden, I was looking smart and clean and even built myself a back room at home."
Did it last you the full month?
"Yes of course it did, remember I had free transport that took me to training. I even sent some of the money home."