In this edition of My First, a retired former Premier Soccer League player shares his experiences with significant firsts on and off the field.
Former Black Leopards left-back Eric Ramavhale recounts these memorable moments throughout his career.
My First School:
"I attended Nzhelele Mungomani Primary School. Funny enough, I didn't cry or anything when I started school, as it provided me with the opportunity to play outside our family home for the first time. It was also the first time in my life that I saw other people besides my family members. However, things at school didn't go quite well for me; I was a slow learner. I was six years old at the time."
My First Kiss:
"Amazingly, the lady who gave me my first kiss is now my wife. I was 17 years old, and today we have four children: two girls and two boys."
My First Soccer Boots:
"My first soccer boots were Adidas Argentina. They were so old that I had to tie them together with a wire at the front. Taking them to a shoemaker for repairs was too costly for me. Someone had given me those boots for free, and I was 14 years old when I used them."
My First Red Card:
"I didn't even kick anyone when I received my first red card. We were playing against Mamelodi Sundowns. I was in possession of the ball, and Surprise Moriri was in front of me. I cut inside the box, and he tackled me from behind. However, the referee ruled that I had dived. Television replays showed I should have received a penalty. I remember celebrating and clapping my hands, thinking the red card was for Surprise Moriri. Unfortunately, we lost that match 3-0."
My First Own Goal:
"I have never scored an own goal; I was the one who used to assist the opposition in scoring their own goals."
My First Goal:
"I was playing for Dynamos when I scored my first goal from a free kick against Callies. I scored that goal in injury time, and we won 1-0. However, my first goal in the PSL was against Free State Stars at Thohoyandou Stadium."
My First PSL Match:
"I remember playing against Siwelele (Bloemfontein Celtic), who had just returned from the first division. The stadium was completely packed. That was the game in which I received my first ever Man of the Match award, I was with Black Leopards."
My First Trophy With A Club:
"My first trophy with a club was the NFD title with Dynamos, the year we got promoted to the PSL. It was a memorable experience."
My First Car:
"My first car was a brand new 2005 Toyota Tazz, which I purchased on installment. It cost me about R180,000."
My First Signing-On Fee:
"My first signing-on fee was R15,000. I had joined Dangerous Darkies in Nelspruit back in 2002, and I was signed by the club owner, Robert Gumede."
Photo Credit : -Gallo Images
