In this edition of Negotiating Behind The Scenes, former Mpumalanga Black Aces goalkeeper Walter Khumalo reflects on the day he joined the club in 2010, just after the FIFA World Cup.
Khumalo recalls how Marc Grune, the club's CEO at the time, spent the entire negotiation explaining the financial constraints the club was facing.
How did you find out that Aces were interested?
"My contract at Free State Stars had just ended when I received a call from Marc Grune, the then Aces CEO, asking me to join them. This came after their goalkeeper coach, Cyprian Maimane, recommended me, as he knew me from my time at Black Leopards."
Where did you meet for the contract negotiation?
"We met at the club's offices in Puma Stadium in Witbank. It was a strong Aces team featuring goalkeepers like Denis Onyango and Francis Chansa."
Who was present during the negotiations?
"Marc Grune was there. He was very persuasive. I still remember him continually explaining how 'the team had no funds; we can only offer you R20,000 a month, and we will pay for your accommodation. The team transport will bring you to training.'"
What surprised you?
"I was surprised to find myself paying for my own accommodation three months later. Although it was stated in my contract that they would cover my accommodation, I ended up paying for my own flat.
"They only paid for the first and second months. By the third month, the landlord threatened to evict me. Scared of being homeless, I decided to pay from my own pocket. The bachelor flat cost me R3,500 a month. The football industry can be quite tough, my friend."
Did you get what you wanted?
"Yes, I did, except for the accommodation issue. However, I consistently received my salary on time and in full."
Did you see out the contract?
"I signed a two-year contract (one year plus an option for another year). However, things changed when Paul Dolezar and his two assistants, Shakes Kungwane and Marc Batchelor, joined us. Dolezar's arrival disrupted everything for me.
"Denis Onyango got injured, and Chansa wasn't performing well. We had to play a match in Durban, but because Dolezar didn't know me, he chose to play Chansa instead. We ended up losing the game.
"Afterward, we were given time off for the weekend, and I decided to go home, unaware that I was giving Dolezar the opportunity to convince the management to let me go while keeping his 'son,' Chansa."
What would you change?
"I would accept the situation when things don't go my way. I should have been patient and waited for my turn rather than rushing to play."