In this week's edition of My First Pay Cheque, KickOff discusses money-related matters with former Maritzburg United winger Gabriel Nyoni, whose career was prematurely ended by injury.
The Zimbabwean reveals how his first salary might have bankrupted a Zimbabwean professional club.
Who you signed for?
"It was in 2010 when I signed for Shooting Stars in Zimbabwe. I was 17 years old by that time and still in school.
"To be honest, I was pretty much nervous without any idea of what I was doing at the time but just excited to start playing professional football.
"I think I was more excited that my schoolmates were now going to see me on TV more than anything else."
How much was it?
"That's the time I got my first salary, which was around USD150 (R3 000) and that was the only salary I got from that club as it started to go bankrupt.
"Even now, it no longer exists. We started getting small keep-ups and most of that money I was using for school stuff.
Books, uniforms, food at the boarding school was basically what I was using that money for."
How did you celebrate your first salary?
"Honestly, it was too little to spoil myself and I had a huge responsibility to take care of my school wellbeing as a young man coming from a not-so-well off family."
Did it last you the whole month?
"My first salary never lasted even one week. It came at a point where I needed it most for every little school thing my parents couldn't afford to get me. So, it was more of an opportunity for me to match other kids' standards at school."