In this edition of My First Pay Cheque, former striker Andries Sebola regales KickOff readers about how Mahwelereng Real Rovers supporters used to 'pay' him from their own pockets.
"Local is Lekker", as he is fondly known in football circles, reveals how he spent his first-ever football salary in 1995 while still on the books of Mahwelereng Real Rovers.
Who you signed for?
"My first pay cheque, I got it at Mahwelereng Real Rovers. That's when we got promoted to the National Soccer League [NSL]. That was in 1994."
How much was it?
"It was R3500, and I was so excited because in the OK League [National First Division], we only received win bonuses.
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"Back then, teams relied on gate-takings as there were no sponsorships and monthly grants. Luckily at Real Rovers, we always played in front of a full house, so the club managed to pay us.
"I still remember the salary would come in an envelope, we would queue in front of the club office's door and they would call out your name."
How I celebrated
"Because as a local boy I was staying at home, I went to Wimpy to spoil myself with some breakfast, and also bought some groceries for at home."
What I bought for myself
"I bought myself some clothes. Brands like Jonathan D were very expensive and an in-thing those days.
"So, I bought myself a couple of jeans and a couple of golf shirts. I wanted to look nice, especially during church services."
Did it last me the full month?
"Yes, it did, with the help of the win bonuses, of course. That's how it sustained me the whole month.
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"And as a local boy from Mahwelereng, some of the club supporters used to give me amounts like R200, R500 every time they got paid just to motivate me."
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