Imagine being a 20-year-old footballer being offered almost 10 times - without trials - what you are earning in a country located in a continent that you only associate with giraffes and lions.
Well, this is the situation that Brazilian defender Vinicius da Silva found himself in midway through the year 2008 when Moroka Swallows came calling for his services.
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The highly regarded footballer had no idea who Swallows were, having never been outside of Brazil with minimal interest from South Americans in both the PSL and African football.
"I had an invitation letter to go to Croatian giants Dinamo Zagreb, but it was for trials while with Swallows the boss Leon Prins gave me a contract straightaway without trials, says Vinicius talking to KickOff from Pindamonhangaba in the state of Sao Paulo.
Vinicius da Silva in the colours of Soweto giants Moroka Swallows
"So, I decided to go straight to Swallows instead of the trials in Zagreb.
"I never knew about Swallows because this side, Africa is associated with giraffes, buffaloes, and lions, and people here think those animals walk in the streets and eat people.
"The money was better than what I had been getting here in Brazil and this was an opportunity to travel and experience life in a different country.
"Before that, I had been with Volta Redonda in the Brazilian third division of the national league and played top league in the Campeonato Carioca (Rio de Janeiro) where we played against Flamengo and Vasco.
"My contract with Swallows was in dollars and eight to ten times higher than what I had been getting at Volta where I was a youngster who had just been promoted from the youth and was earning about 1500 Brazilian reals [approx. R4000].
"What used to happen was that the dollar value for that month would be converted at the prevailing exchange rate of the rand for that month before I get paid.
"So, at times I got more in rands and at times I lost money and got less depending on the rate," says Da Silva who scored Swallows' winner in the 2009 Nedbank Cup final.
Not even brought in by Julio Leal
"I realised later that my agent at the time Eduardo Prada had planned with Swallows to bring Brazilians to the club after they had brought in Julio Cesar Leal as head coach.
"They then had Japhet Borges as fitness trainer then had other players Davi Rancan, Elton Morelato, and Igor Alves in the squad.
"We were all not even brought in by Julio because he did mention that we were not his choice and if he could have been the one choosing then he would have selected other players.
"However, it so happened that we were all good enough to play in the PSL.
Lure of the World Cup
"Coming to South Africa was an opportunity to be in a country where the World Cup was going to be held.
"All of the world's eyes were going to be on South Africa so this was an opportunity and after my first year Orlando Pirates did raise a bit of interest and later Moldovan champions Sheriff Tiraspol who regularly play in Europe were keen on me.
"They had a scout in SA and later in 2010 I went there for physical trials but at that time I wasn't in good physical condition, so I didn't sign.
"In South Africa, the good part was that even with small you could have a decent lifestyle.
"By the way, there were no giraffes and lions on the streets like what some people thought here in Brazil.
"I was in Johannesburg staying at the Bedford Centre so for me it was great, and I have been teaching a lot of people here about the real South Africa and not these misconceptions that they have.
"What made it even easier for me in South Africa there were other Brazilian players at the club," he says.
Life after football
"Many players never know what to do after they retire from playing because all they have ever known is football.
"As footballers, some of the life skills that we have are underestimated because we, as players, don't understand properly our influence and value in the communities where we live.
"The truth is that as a player you must be able to have an appeal to the corporate world and businesses through your conduct.
"For me, after I retired, I had to go to school and got a qualification in Business Administration and Entrepreneurship which is why I now have my small business and work for a hotel at the front desk," says Da Silva.
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