For all the energy that came with pushing for his move to Orlando Pirates it was sad that Fikru Tefera only lasted just a season with his fortunes taking a dip once Micho Sredojevic quit in a huff halfway through the season.
Sredojevic had been influential in Tefera joining Pirates and once he was gone in January 2007, Tefera played less and never scored again.
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At the end of that 2006/07 season, it became obvious that the 21-year-old would be forced to leave the club after the signing of Lelo Blaise Mbele, Mulondo Sikhwivhilu, and Collins Chabalala as new attacking options.
Tefera as a result went to SuperSport United.
"I signed for three years and wanted to play that long but couldn't because of things that I wasn't happy with at Pirates, which is a club that I still have love for up to this day," Tefera tells KickOff.
"At Pirates my issues had nothing to do with Bibey Mutombo even I don't know where they brought him from and who brought him.
"I had no issues with him because he came as a technical director and was good with me because he told me that he wants to work with.
"What I didn't like at Pirates was the tradition of using muti.
"At Pirates when you are given the jersey it would be dirty and smelling which always forced me to wash it first.
"I didn't like all that muti stuff because I'm Orthodox (Ethiopian Orthodox Tewhedo Church).
"Why should I be having to wash my jersey off muti whenever we must go and play games?
"I'm Orthodox proper and I don't believe in those things.
"Muti was the biggest thing that made me leave Pirates because it just made my stay difficult.
"Your socks and boots would all be smelling and wet and at times I had to change boots three times.
"I always went in for games wet and that was why I ended up not allowing the muti man to do his things with me in the dressing room.
"The other players knew I didn't subscribe to these muti rituals so they always pushed him to start with me because they knew I would never allow him to touch me.
"Even in the hotel while in camp you had to go to one room and get into the dirty water in the bathtub.
"I refused to do those things and when I went to SuperSport, I won back-to-back championships without any of that.
"At SuperSport there was none of those muti rituals and bro Joe (Boshielo) gave you your tracksuit smelling of perfume instead of many things that you don't know.
"I was a champion without using muti there.
"At Pirates I made my case known about muti and the big boss Irvin Khoza respected me and my religion and even came with me to my church and spoke to the Pope of our church.
"The chairman respected my decision to move away from the club.
"However, I still love Pirates the same way that the fans still love me.
"When you have played for Pirates you heart remains there and South Africa remains home to me," says Tefera.
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