In this edition of My First, KickOff speaks to former Free State Stars defender Leonard Xaba.
Xaba shares with readers about his first experiences, both in football and in his private life.
My First School:
"Mokgatla Primary School in the North West province. I was five years old when I went to school, so, the experience was scary, made worse by the fact that it was far from home. I never went to creche because I and my brother were raised by my unemployed mother."
My First Kiss:
"It was from Rose in 1992. We were both 15 years old. She was my first girlfriend. We broke each other's virginity. She's the mother of my first-born child."
My First Child:
"My son was born in 2004… I was playing for Wits. He was born on the 26th of February, and I was born on the 28th of February. His name is Siphiwe. I named him after the late Siphiwe Mkhonza, we were very close."
My First Favourite Club:
"Kaizer Chiefs. They had top talent those days. That's what attracted me to support Chiefs."
My First Soccer Boots:
"Jomo Sono King. They were bought for me by my parents in 1997. I was going for trials at Brits Morning Stars FC, which was later sold to Mabopane Young Masters. I was 18 when I got my first soccer boots."
My First Red Card:
"It was for a second bookable offence, it was not a straight red. It was Free State Stars playing against SuperSport United.
"For the second booking, I went (in) hard on Desmond Chauke."
My First Own Goal:
"We were playing Santos at Charles Mopeli. Our captain, Goodman Mazibuko, had a toothache problem, so he couldn't play. So, as a vice-captain, I had to take over the armband.
"I was marking the tall Santos striker Jean-Marc Ithier. A dangerous cross was sent to our penalty area, and Ithier came running straight towards my direction.
"Not knowing that our keeper Walter Khumalo has left his goal-line, I flicked the ball towards him, playing a backpass.
"The next thing, there was a roar from the crowd. When I turned my head to look back, the ball was inside the net, and Khumalo was lying on his back. We lost that game 2-1.
"Imagine it's your first time ever being awarded the opportunity to lead the team and you score an own goal? But the goalkeeper was the one who was blamed by the technical team, asking him where was he going leaving the goal line."
My First Goal:
"It was against Moroka Swallows. Even their former goalkeeper Wendell Robinson is still talking about it whenever we meet. I hit him same time from the D line. What a volley!"
My First Individual Award:
"I was never chosen as a Man of the Match. But at Wits, I was voted the Most Improved Player."
My First Trophy With A Club:
"The whole football career, I never won a trophy with a club. We lost to SuperSport United in the Absa Cup final. I only have a silver medal. It's hard to finish your playing career without any silverware. I should have played for bigger teams like Chiefs, (Orlando) Pirates, and (Mamelodi) Sundowns."
My First Car:
"It's a Toyota Tazz. I still drive it even today. I bought it while I was still at Golden Arrows. It's a 2003 model and I bought it the same year. It was a 'new second-hand'. I paid R69 000 for it."