In our thrilling feature, "My Welcome to the League Moment," KickOff catches up with former Orlando Pirates star Bruce Ramokadi.
Ramokadi recounts that his most challenging match in the Premier Soccer League occurred in a game where he didn't even participate.
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"I was fortunate to have played with people who knew how to play football," Ramokadi shares with KickOff.
"Remember, when I joined Orlando Pirates around 1992 and 1993, they still had players like Nick Seshweni.
"In 1993, Pirates were on fire. We even won the BP Top 8. Our squad included players like Etienne Nsunda, Themba Mthethwa, and Wilson Rathelele, unfortunately, he passed away.
"The tough games were against well-organised teams, such as Hellenic and Santos. Those teams gave us a lot of problems.
"But my welcome to the league moment came against AmaZulu in Durban, and bear in mind, I wasn't even playing.
"I wasn't willing to participate in that game; it was so scary.
"I remember AmaZulu striker George Dearnaley breaking his leg in that match. If I recall correctly, it was in 1996.
"That league game was rough, man. The day before, I was playing in the Under-23 national team, but Mike Makaab, who was our coach at Pirates, insisted I make myself available for the AmaZulu clash.
"He said I couldn't stay away because the team had a lot of injuries.
"I was there, but I didn't play. It was rough in that game. I spent the entire 90 minutes holding my breath and praying the coach wouldn't put me in.
"George Dearnaley got injured after being kicked by my teammate Edward Motale.
"On our side, I think it was Mark Fish or Gavin Lane who got injured, and he was injured by George Dearnaley.
"That game was so tough; both teams couldn't get anywhere near the opposition's goalposts. It ended 0-0.
"In that game, even if our coach had asked me to come on, I would have told him straight, 'No, coach, sorry, I don't feel like playing.'
"The way people were kicking each other in that match, man, it was so scary. I will never forget that game (laughs).
"George Dearnaley started the whole thing, and the Pirates guys wanted revenge. From there onwards, people were just kicking each other.
"But shockingly, no red card was issued. There were just a lot of yellow cards. It was a situation where an injury to one is an injury to all; the guys looked out for each other."