In our exciting feature My Welcome To The League Moment, former Bloemfontein Celtic and Free State Stars player Kleinbooi Taaibos reveals how starstruck he was when he got to sign his first professional contract.
Taaibos also reveals how much he regrets leaving Bloemfontein Celtic for Free State Stars.
"I signed my first professional contract in the NFD," he shares.
READ: 'Deep down, Sundowns know the truth'
"I joined Bloemfontein Celtic in the NFD, and I found it very difficult to adapt. I struggled, arriving from an amateur team, where I was a star. Meeting these astute players at Celtic, it was very difficult for me to adapt in that environment.
"The quickness and pace was beating me," adds the former tricky player.
At the time, Celtic had on their books the likes of Tsepo Motsoeneng, Willem Vries, Abram 'Wire' Nteo, Lefa Tsutsulupa, Ace Gulwa, Lehlohonolo Seema, Lebohang Kukame, and the team had experienced relegation from the topflight.
"They were a team of stars. Those guys were very fit! I couldn't adapt quickly to the pace. The pace was at the highest level. I was struggling. Their tactical level was very high compared to us who were from the amateur level.
"I kept asking myself, 'What is wrong with me?' I always knew myself as somebody who had a positive attitude, and a big fighter with a strong mentality. Those are the things that helped me adapt quickly.
"But the technical staff and the experienced players were not so hard on us, they understood we were still some unpolished products."
Taaibos goes on to reflect on an experience that now, with the benefit of hindsight, he feels he should have dealt with better.
"My only regret in my football career came after Celtic attempted to cut our salaries. I refused. I didn't allow mine to be cut while I was one of the lowest earners in the team. Because of my inexperience in professional football, I felt that was an insult.
READ: Kwem leaves AmaZulu, PSL side to pounce?
"I told myself that I'd rather go somewhere else to get what I thought I deserved."
That was his his move to Free State Stars came into being.
"That's the only thing that I regret in my football career. That experience has taught me a lot in life. I should have stayed put at Celtic."