In the latest edition of Negotiating Behind the Scenes, former Orlando Pirates star and fan-favourite Steve "Chippa" Lekoelea takes us back to the day he joined the mighty Buccaneers from Moroka Swallows.
Who I signed for…
"I still remember very well it was the year 1995. Pirates had just won the star in the CAF Champions Cup final.
"Playing for Swallows prepared me very well. I enjoyed my football at Swallows. I was allowed not to defend at Swallows.
"All I did was attack because I was playing with experienced players like Andries Mpondo, Joseph Rapelego and Jerry Makgaledisa. I'm the star I am today because of them."
How did you find out?
"We were playing against Orlando Pirates on a Saturday and on Monday I was at the Pirates offices.
"I wiped the floor with Magents [Edward Motale] on that Saturday.
"It was my agent Sipho Ndlengezela who informed me Pirates were interested."
Where did you meet?
"On Monday my agent took me to the Pirates offices, when we got there Irvin Khoza gave me an R6000 cheque. He told me to use that money to buy myself a cold drink. And by that time, I'm earning R1200 at Swallows."
Who was there?
"It was only the three of us. Me, Mr. Ndlengezela and Irvin Khoza. Can you imagine being given R6000 for free while earning R1200 at Swallows [laughs]."
What surprised you?
"What surprised me was being given R6000 for cold drinks when I was getting R1200 a month at Swallows."
Did you get what you wanted?
"You know when such things happen you become so excited you even forget about contracts.
"Remember I was young then and all I wanted was to play for Orlando Pirates. I didn't even know there was money in football."
Did you see out the contract?
"I didn't even know how long I had signed for at Pirates. I ended up staying there for maybe 10 years.
"In my first deal with the club, it was my father that signed for me because I was underage."
What you would change?
"I'd fix my contract. I'd demand to know how long I have signed for, the salary. Football people will not even give you a chance to read your contract, they will just tell you to put initials here and initials there and go and play.
"I think it's a big mistake what players do because they don't read the contracts. You end up signing for five years unaware."