Renowned football agent and former coach Mike Makaab has explained why he left Orlando Pirates ahead of the African Champions Cup final in 1995.
Makaab stunned many when he called it quits on the eve of the Champions Cup final second-leg against Ivory Coast' Asec Mimosas with the tie 2-2 from the first-leg.
The late Ronald Mkhwandawire, who served as assistant coach took the reins and saw the Buccaneers courtesy of Jerry Sikhosana's strike become the first South African side to land the continent's prized asset.
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"It would have been easier for me to stay and finish what I had started. But the truth is I had left behind my wife and my three children, at that stage young children in Durban," Makaab told Marawa Sports Worldwide.
"Whilst I worked in Johannesburg and unlike most people who commute I saw my family probably once every two months for a day or two at best.
"And it was a decision I only had to make either to continue doing something that I truly loved and at a club that I had grown super fond of," he added.
Makaab confirmed he was at a cross-road where he had to either stuck it out with the team whilst the possibly of losing his family weighed.
"A chairman that I worked incredibly well with, a friend in Baba Ngubane (the late Lawrence Ngubane) who I shared accommodation with, I had either to continue on that journey with the honest possibly of losing my family or I had to come back to Durban," he continued.
Given the turn of events, the now football agent is pleased the Soweto giants ended up triumphant and Mkhandawire steered them to glory.
"One would've thought why don't he stay at least for the next two months, in my heart I knew my assistant coach the late Ronald Mkhandawire had what it takes to lead this team to continental glory and I'm so very pleased for him and the club that he did that and that's the honest truth," Makaab said.
The man, who head the ProSport International agency, did have success with the Buccaneers after leading them to the 1994 league title.