In this edition of My First Pay Cheque, KickOff speaks to Marumo Gallants FC goalkeeper Washington Arubi.
The 39-year-old shares with KickOff readers what he did with his first-ever pay cheque in football, which he says he received from his former team in Zimbabwe.
Arubi arrived in South Africa in 2012 to play for University of Pretoria FC, having signed from Zimbabwe giants Dynamos.
Do you still remember the day you got your first pay cheque in football?
"It was at Lanshire Steel Football Club, back home in Zimbabwe. It was in the Premier Division. I was 17 years old at the time. The year was 2003 and I was still at school."
How much was it?
"It was R4000 if I put it in rands. It was a lot back then, our Zimbabwean currency was still strong at the time."
How did you celebrate your first pay cheque?
"I didn't celebrate it. I was a young boy and I was still growing, I left the family house, and I got a scholarship that paid for everything. And as a result, I sent all the R4000 to my mom. As a young boy, I was not into a lot of stuff.
"I wanted to thank my mom so I could get more blessings, you know it's a norm in our culture, especially when you are getting your first salary in your life.
"There was nothing I bought for myself, I was not that naughty boy who liked drinking and partying. I was too focused on my studies and football career."
