When the PSL decided to cut down the League's teams from 18 to 16 ahead of the start of the 2002/03 season, it meant two clubs would be swallowed whole.
For long, speculation had suggested that Ria Stars would be joined by newly promoted African Wanderers, yet in the end it was Free State Stars being bought out.
READ: Part 1 l Running away from Chiefs and moving from R500 to R18 000
Behind the scenes, there were underhand tactics that rolled into drama scenes, which affected Stars' top performer Goodman Mazibuko, who ended up at Orlando Pirates.
Mazibuko had been gritty in providing the bite from midfield playing 35 games throughout the 2001/02 season under Roy Barreto, who also moved to the Soweto giants.
"The move to Pirates was not out of my own choice," laughs Mazibuko in turning the hands of time to the winter of 2002.
"We had been locked in a pre-season camp for a month in Bethlehem, during which we didn't even go out to buy airtime.
"All along, we had been under the impression that Ria Stars would be joined by Wanderers until the day we got back to Qwa-Qwa and got to hear at a local garage that our team has been sold.
"We were all shocked and as captain when I called Barreto, he told me that he also doesn't know anything at all.
"The following day, we were all called into a club meeting, but strangely, Bro Phil Setshedi (late Pirates manager) was in attendance.
"I found it bizarre that our team meeting was being attended by an opposition team manager.
"In that meeting, a finger was pointed towards me, Hleza Mofedi, Michel Babale and Jimmy Kauleza in directing us that we are joining Pirates.
"I was wearing slopes and shorts that day, but I was told that I must leave for Johannesburg like that without even going back home to consult my family or fetch my belongings.
"David Radebe was also supposed to come with to Pirates, but he refused on the spot because he already had a deal at Kaizer Chiefs.
"It was madness like that and while they insisted on that we leave right away, I refused and told them I need to tell my mom first.
"We were told that we will buy toiletries and whatever else we need in Jozi.
"On our way to Jozi, we were guarded so much even when you went to the toilet, they followed you to make sure you don't escape," discloses Mazibuko.
Further drama awaited them in Johannesburg after the late afternoon drive from Qwa-Qwa.
"Going to Pirates felt like a hijacking because I wasn't even given a chance to process my thoughts and weigh up my options.
"I even sneaked out to take a call from Gavin Hunt, who wanted me at Moroka Swallows, the team that I preferred.
"But the deal didn't work out because the next time he called, I couldn't answer the phone because the Pirates people were near me.
READ | No homecoming for Chiefs star as disaster strikes
"We eventually signed at night around 02h00 after being linked with Mike Makaab as my agent and waiting for the chairman.
"I didn't even want to sign for Pirates, but I was told I will play for the national team by being here.
"After having initially refused, I was asked what I wanted and was given R100 000 as signing-on fees with a salary of about R18 000 to R20 000.
"At Stars, my best salary was R12 000 after starting at R1000," says Mazibuko, who now has a day job in the Free State.