In this edition of My First Pay Cheque, former Mpumalanga Black Aces and Free State Stars player Lehumo Itshegetseng shares with KickOff the reason he spent his first pay cheque on a brand new television.
Itshegetseng's dream was always to have his own television so he could see his favourite European teams in the UEFA Champions League.
Do you remember the day you received your very first pay cheque in football?
"I was in Lesotho with the South African under-23 national team. At that time, I was playing for an amateur club, Galatasaray, where we weren't getting paid. We only received a share of winnings from local tournaments."
How much was it?
"It wasn't a lot, but back then, that amount meant everything to someone like me who had never been paid before, especially in one week."
How did you celebrate?
"There weren't any big celebrations. My grandmother was thrilled; she was really happy that I could finally buy myself some things."
What did you buy for yourself?
"That was the first time I ever owned a television. It was in 2004. I would stay up late watching the UEFA Champions League, and sometimes my grandmother would turn her television off while I was still watching football."
Did your first pay cheque last you the whole month?
"After buying the TV, I gave the rest of the money to my grandmother so she could buy us some isishebo (food). I didn’t rush to buy the latest clothing brands or anything like that like most my of my peers."
