On the latest edition of Negotiating behind the scenes, retired midfielder Humphrey Mlwane explains how he regrets a decision he made when signing for Kaizer Chiefs.
Mlwane was a hot property in the domestic league when he signed for Chiefs after his good performances at Moroka Swallows.
Who I signed for…
"It was in 1997. I was Swallows' star player [laughs]. It was January 1997 when I signed for Kaizer Chiefs.
"The thing is, I grew up supporting Chiefs. And in my mind, I never thought something like that could happen. So it was an emotional moment when the move happened. I used to come to FNB Stadium to watch them in the Iwisa Charity Spectacular."
How did you find out?
"I was visiting my friends in KwaNdebele when I saw it in a Sunday newspaper."
Where did you meet?
"The following week I was sitting in the stands because of an injury. Chiefs and Swallows were playing a friendly match in Venda.
"It's where Chiefs assistant coach Wellington Manyathi informed me the club wanted me. He said to me 'Bra K wants you man.'
"After that I didn't want anything to do with Swallows because we were getting paid peanuts there.
"Though I ended being released, the issue became quite big you know, there was money complications, the issue dragged on for two months.
"There was a time I even went to the Chiefs offices in Carlton Centre to ask them why are they delaying in signing me. Chiefs told me Swallows wanted too much money for me."
Who was there?
"While sitting at home Mamelodi Sundowns wanted to sign me, after three days I was informed Chiefs have made their decision.
"It was me and Kaizer Motaung in the office when I signed for Chiefs. They had already moved their offices to Naturena by the time I was signed.
"Kaizer told me he liked my style of play, he like the way I handle myself, he likes the way I play, he would love to see me come and help Chiefs. That I'd be a better player based on the coaches that they have. He liked the way I was never in the newspapers for the wrong reasons.
"That was my first time getting a signing-on fee, a whole R40 000? My salary was R6 500. A win bonus was R1000. So, in total, you could get maybe R10 000 a month."
What surprised you?
"I kept on asking myself, is it really me? Playing for such a big team? Because Chiefs were quite big at that time. Only quality players played for that team.
"Playing for Chiefs changes the way people perceive you, it changes even you as a player, it makes you think you are now big you know."
Did you get what you wanted?
"I can say yes I did because I was the one who was negotiating, I had no agent. I managed to go back to school when I was at Chiefs."
Did you see out the contract?
"Yes, I did. I signed for three years. But when Muhsin Ertugral got there he told us he wanted to rebuild the team with youngsters. That's when the generation of Jabu Pule was promoted to the first team. From there onwards I became a loanee, I was loaned out non-stop, I even found myself at Mother City FC and Mthatha Bucks…up until the loan deals vanished into thin air."
What would you change?
"The signing-on fee and the salary man, regrets start when you go the gym for the first time, that's where you start hearing gossip stories about so and so getting this much. That is something that is still haunting me. I should have asked for R15 000 salary and an R60 000 signing-on fee. But I had no manager then I had no agent. I learned the hard way.
"But it's the poverty that I had experienced at Swallows earning R2500 a month that made me sign with my stomach at Chiefs [laughs]. I was afraid Kaizer might change his mind if I ask for too much money. Besengilambe kakhulu."