In this edition of My First Pay Cheque, KickOff catches up with former Orlando Pirates striker Thulasizwe Mbuyane as he talks candidly about money matters.
'Juju', as Mbuyane is largely known in local football, reveals how one of his former clubs' chairman ran off with his large signing-on fee.
Who did you sign for when you got your first proper salary in football?
"I'd say Free State Stars. Remember, I was playing for Garankuwa United, although at Garankuwa, they were paying me more than what I had signed for.
"I joined Free State Stars in the 2007/08 season."
How much was it?
"At Free State, it was R16 000. It was little. At Garankuwa United, they were paying me R7 500."
How did you celebrate?
"Remember, I was already in the Free State when I got paid my first salary at Stars.
"So, because I was far, I had to send some money home to my mother. I was still staying in the clubhouse in Bethlehem."
What did you buy with it?
"I had to buy myself a TV, my DVD player so that my bedroom at the clubhouse can have that feeling of being a home. The DVD player was an in-thing those days. I also bought myself a stove so I could cook.
"The only thing the club provided was the clubhouse, which is a place to stay. The food, you had to buy your own.
"The first thing I bought was a bedroom suite. I bought it for my bedroom in the clubhouse in Free State. And [with] the rest, I bought myself some clothes to spoil myself. Remember, I was still new in the PSL, so I had to look the part.
"They only paid my signing-on fee in October. If I remember very well, my signing-on fee at Free State Stars was only R120 000, and they paid it in two instalments of R60 000. They paid me a very small signing-on fee, but what can we say, it's what clubs paid those days.
"I shared that house with Shaun Oliver, Sithembiso Ngcobo and Sifiso [Sithole], who signed from Tukkies.
"Each player bought himself a TV for his bedroom. We didn't want our girlfriends to get bored, but bebangafiki la kumina ngama cherrie la majita [the guys were no match for me when it came to women]. I was too hot to handle."
Did your first salary last you the whole month?
"It did but only because of the win bonuses Stars used to give us. We used to win matches.
"The thing is the money I used to get at Free State was too little for a girlfriend allowance.
"But that said, what I used to earn during my time was okay for me. Even though Mpumalanga Black Aces died with my signing-on the fee, it doesn't matter.
"The likes of Mario [former owner Morfou] ran off with my money. I'm talking about R145 000. Yaphelela kanjalo imali yami."