It was a decade ago that Helder Pelembe found himself living the dream after being signed by Orlando Pirates.
That he had endured a series of frustrations in Portugal and at Roses United in the first division prior to that suddenly didn't matter anymore.
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He had now come to be where he had always imagined himself wearing the black and white colours and absorbing the attention that comes with being part of the Soweto giants' squad.
His journey with Pirates didn't turn out great and he soon found himself at Bloemfontein Celtic and then Baroka before heading home to Mozambique before he turned 31.
"It was a huge achievement to be at Pirates and meet coaches as Roger de Sa and Eric Tinkler who could boost me," Pelembe tells KickOff from his home in Maputo.
"They gave me that trust so it was a huge step but unfortunately in life we can't predict what will happen tomorrow.
"I don't have a feeling of regret, but I thought I had more to give Pirates and Celtic than I did.
"Then there was a problem with language because when I signed, Roger didn't last long afterwards and my English at the time was poor compared to now.
"At that time, I was feeling 'homeless' and if I had someone close to guide me, I will have reacted differently in the situations that I faced.
"I made childish decisions which also included coming back to Mozambique before I was 31.
"I was betrayed by my ego which made me come back home in the hope that things would happen forgetting that here in Mozambique they don't care much about sport," says Pelembe while detailing what his money dealings in South Africa.
"There are people that earn money there in South Africa.
"I came to South Africa and one of the good things that I saw was the facilities and how easy you can achieve success.
"I won't be speaking much about money because honestly speaking the very same money that I was earning at Pirates was the same that I got at Baroka a few years.
"So, l was looking for opportunities to get a better contract and improve my life.
"Remember when I came to Pirates, they had to pay for my transfer Liga Muculmna which cost them good money even if it wasn't too much.
"That then meant they couldn't pay me what I felt I deserved.
"I was playing with guys that are really valued and with all due respect I was happy with what I was earning, but I was looking to get more 'tomorrow'.
"Honestly speaking the money that I was getting at Pirates, Celtic, and Baroka is the same that I got when I was in top form here in Mozambique.
"But then I saw an opportunity to grow while in the PSL where I never got that much.
"When I signed for Pirates, they even told me that it is better I start where I started with the plan being that my earnings will move up because of the potential that they said they saw in me," says Pelembe.
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