In the latest edition of Negotiating Behind the Scenes, former Orlando Pirates hardman Linda Buthelezi reveals how he unwillingly ended up playing for the club without a contract.
Who I signed for…
"Remember, there were nine guys who went to Orlando Pirates after Jomo Cosmos were relegated in 1993.
"But I went to Turkey instead. When I returned from Turkey, I approached Cosmos. I'm a Kaizer Chiefs fan and a staunch one. But I had to speak to Cosmos first because I still belonged to Cosmos.
"So, when I came back from Turkey, my intentions were to join Kaizer Chiefs, not knowing that Jomo Cosmos had already reached an agreement with Pirates for my services.
"Initially, I refused to go to Pirates. I wanted to go to Chiefs. But I ended up accepting the Pirates move. Unwillingly."
Where did you meet?
"At the Jomo Cosmos office."
Who was there?
"I prefer not to mention names, but nevertheless, I played for Pirates for four months. No contract was signed, my aim was to stay at Pirates until the end of the season.
"And that's exactly how it happened. That's when Sundowns came into the picture.
"Remember there were no contracts then [in the NSL era], you had no benefits, you had nothing. You get injured and they then don't care about you."
What surprised you?
"I was never surprised. Remember I was a semi-professional, and I studied Law, so I understand those things."
Did you get what you wanted?
"You know in business, you win or lose. I never wanted anything from these negotiations because it was zero.
"You can't negotiate with a corpse; my condition was to stay there four months and leave. I had a very strong principles."
What you would change?
"I would never play for Pirates. That's the only thing I'd change. Wearing that jersey. I was just a zombie in that jersey. It was never in my plans to go there, even today, I don't feel like their former player."