In this first edition of our new weekly feature, My Secret To Success, KickOff speaks to former Orlando Pirates and Free State Stars striker Jimmy Kauleza.
The retired former footballer reveals the secret that helped him realize his childhood dream of playing PSL football.
"In my youth days I used to attend a lot of open trials, but my breakthrough came at the Free State Stars trials where we were given 15 minutes to impress," reveals Kauleza.
READ | Riveiro's Nedbank Cup clean bill
"That day, Themba Sithole and Roy Barreto instructed me to go play on the side. I scored just one goal in that 15 minutes, and I was in. They were looking for first-team players.
"There were a lot of players who had come to try their luck in Bethlehem that day. All I wanted to do in that 15 minutes was to score a goal to get noticed.
"The reason I wanted to score so badly is because I was now experienced in attending trials; before that, I had spent a week at Moroka Swallows undergoing trials," he added.
READ | Nedbank Cup bell rings loud for Chiefs
"Those days, Swallows had the likes of Scara Ngobese, Sibusiso Mazibuko, and Jokhonia Cibi; all those guys were still youngsters. I trained with them for a week, but it didn't work. There's this Brazillian coach I just forgot his name, he told me he already had too many youngsters.
"I went back home. There were other trials at Marks Park, organised by Wits University FC, but things didn't go well even there. I went back home again.
"After a few weeks, my coach at my amateur club in Klerksdorp told me about Free State Stars trials in Bethlehem. Those trials lasted from 09:00 to 17:00. David Radebe was also there. I outran people that day. I thought to myself, 'Now I have to play for myself, I must dribble these guys at a fast pace and score at least one goal. I must be selfish for once to get noticed'. And that's what exactly happened. Moses Spandeel was also there but he was not picked.
"I was on trial for the position of a striker, so I knew to impress, I had to be selfish and score a goal during the 15 minutes. That was my secret to success."