Ryan Botha has detailed how he came to play for as many as 14 clubs through his career that should have started out at AmaZulu before he got his break at SuperSport United.
Botha started out at amateur club Stella before moving to SuperSport United, Wits University, Jomo Cosmos, Tervarit, MyPa, FC Kuusankoski, FC Inter Turku (all Finland), Denizlispor (Turkey), KPV, FC Inter Turku (Finland), Enosis Neon Paralimni (Cyprus), Thanda Royal Zulu, Moroka Swallows, Platinum Stars, and Vasco da Gama.
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"So, what then happened is that I was at AmaZulu for three months, but I didn't sign because they kept on giving me contracts with changes," says Botha.
"Glyn Binkin then took me to Pretoria where I was signed by Roy Matthews.
"I didn't stay long there because Roy was then fired and with a new coach coming in it meant new ideas and philosophy with a lot of new players signed in.
"It then meant some of us had to make way which was understandable since I was a youngster who hadn't shown his worth yet.
"I then went to Wits University for eight months and while I was there Jomo Sono asked that I travelled with his club's Under-20 team for a tournament in Italy.
"It was then that there was interest from Austria, Brazil, and Finland.
"When I landed back Mr Sono had bought me from Wits, but I never played for Cosmos because he then immediately sent me to Finland.
"Jomo us a fantastic man in football and is the one who took me to Europe with Glyn deciding that it was best that I go to Finland instead of Austria and Brazil.
"I played in Finland for a while, and it was a great league because it was a league that normally provides the path to the bigger leagues in Europe.
"Never look down on Scandinavian leagues because their top teams are always looking to get into the Champions League play-offs.
"There are scouts that always come in to tap talent and is a string development league for African talent.
"Some of the moves were unfortunate and forced like in Turkey where I injured my knee four games into my contract.
"I had started playing regular football and was due to get my first call-up under Stuart Baxter.
"After that knee injury, I was out for two years and was told I will never play football again.
"Turkey was where big things were going to happen for me because Baxter had spoken to me about needing me but when I was ready, he was gone.
"I then went to Cyprus where I was looking to get back into a big league and had a move to FC Thun in Switzerland lined up at a club where my former coach Rene van Eck was now in charge.
"That deal collapsed after I had cancelled the contract in Cyprus, and I was then stuck which meant I had to come back home, and I joined Thanda Royal Zulu.
"Thanda was short term and when they wanted to extend, I had the option of joining Moroka Swallows after Mike Makaab pushed for the deal.
"Unfortunately, my style of football didn't suit the philosophy of the coach that was there, and I had to leave for Platinum Stars.
"Platinum Stars was a great club but under Owen da Gama it wasn't football that I enjoyed.
"I no longer enjoyed what I was doing anymore and when you are pushing yourself every day with no rewards it is discouraging so I had to leave.
"I then felt let me take a break before I lose all the passion that I have for the game and will come back as a coach later.
"I retired from football for six months because Platinum Stars gave me a nice settlement, so I was in a good situation to retire.
"However, Vasco da Gama then asked if I could come back as a senior player for six months but this Under-23 rule in the first division made it hell for me.
"I then called it quits for good after that and then helped my friend Larry Cohen get a contract at Moroka Swallows, but one guy tried to cut me off the agency fee.
"So, I stepped back from football for a while and I'm now back as a coach.
"I wasn't chasing short-term money but had a dream of playing in a competitive league.
"I played more football in other countries than I did in my home country and that was frustrating for me.
"There was money in the moves but to build your value you need to stay at a club for three to four years playing consistently.
"When you move, you then have to adjust and never really get to play your best because the players around you don't know you that well.
"My best years were at FC Inter in my second season.
"I came back to South Africa so that I try to get into the 2010 World Cup squad, but it didn't work out because I didn't play enough locally.
"What I have done has always been at the advice of my agent," says Botha.
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