In our exciting feature My Welcome to the League Moment, KickOff speaks to Royal AM left-back Thabo Matlaba.
The former Orlando Pirates star reveals his biggest test in Premier Soccer League football, which he says came at Free State Stars.
"As soon as my first game in the PSL I could tell things were now different," Matlaba tells KickOff.
"That was in 2011. Free State Stars was up against Santos. Away in Cape Town. I still remember very well; we were at Athlone Stadium.
"That game was tough. I was playing left-back, and I was lost. There are certain movements you should make as a left-back, but for me that day it was difficult. I was lost.
"I couldn't even see what was happening around me. There is a huge gap between PSL football and Kasi football.
"In kasi, I could dribble three people at once and shoot and come back again and defend (laughs).
"But that day, even the guys that were sitting at the Santos bench told me straight during the match, hey man Matlaba! Ufile man! Ufile! Jy's dood!"
"I was asking myself, what have I gotten myself into? But though it stressed me, it never discouraged me.
"The worst part is that in our second game, I was dropped from the lineup. It was only when Steve Komphela took over that I started to get some game time again.
"Steve gave me confidence. Confidence is the most important thing in the PSL.