In the latest edition of Negotiating Behind the Scenes, former Orlando Pirates star Innocent Chikoya reveals the role Irvin Khoza played in his transfer to the Sea Robbers.
Who I signed for…
"I signed for Orlando Pirates in 1999. I think I needed a new challenge. I had won the league already with Manning Rangers, and I was the Player of the Year at Rangers.
"The only other team that was after me was SuperSport United, that time they were still called Pretoria City."
How did you find out?
"I got a phone call first from the late Lawrence 'Big Bear' Ngubane, who said to me 'I just wanted to check if you are available, you will now-now get another phone call.'
"The next call was from the big man himself Irvin Khoza. He said we are interested in you. I told him it was not up to me. Then he said to me if you are interested in coming just say so and leave the rest to me. I had just signed a two-year contract with Rangers that time."
Where did you meet?
"First, I met Ngubane in a hotel in Durban, and then it was Khoza at an airport in Durban. Khoza said to me 'Uyakwazi ukukhuluma IsiZulu?' Then he said 'We can't discuss money issues in English with all these white people around us, we must speak in IsiZulu.'
"I was offered a R12 000 salary."
Who was there?
"Before that season even finished, they flew me to Johannesburg. I think we were left with four, five matches at Rangers.
"That second meeting took place at the club offices in Park Town, it was Irvin Khoza and me at the office."
What surprised you?
"When I got to Irvin Khoza's office…Do you know a lion? Ibhubesi. That's how intimidating his office is. On the wall there's a big, big picture of FNB Stadium. A fully packed FNB Stadium. I don't know which teams were playing.
"I looked at the picture and said, 'It's full there', he said to me, 'Now you are playing for the national team. And not any ordinary player can play for this team. Now that you are here you need to make your mark in this team."
Did you get what you wanted?
"I did get what I wanted. And we agreed, I signed a three-year contract. I went straight to my hotel room with a big smile. The first phone call I made was to my mother."
Did you see out the contract?
"Yes, I saw it out. I even signed another extension for two years. And that time I signed my first contract I was injured; I just had an operation on my groin. But obviously they didn't care about that Pirates."
What would you change?
"There's lot of things you wish you would have put in your contract. I could have asked for things that could help me after football. Things to fall back on."