Former Pirates striker reveals how he slept with R45 000 under his pillow

Former Orlando Pirates and Bafana Bafana striker, Jerry Sikhosana, has revealed how he ended up sleeping with a huge stack of cash under his pillow and how he almost quit the game because of criticism. 

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In an interview with Brian Mathe on the Nedbank Reality Football series, Sikhosana discussed his career, returning to the Pirates team after going AWOL, winning the 1995 CAF Champions League, and even the money he earned throughout his career.

The discussion was part of Nedbank Reality Football, a series of tell-all conversations delving into the lives, defining moments and money choices of some of South Africa’s greatest ever footballers.

“I entered the competition (Caf Champions League) in the quarter finals because I was not eligible to play (because) I joined Pirates in 1995,” said Sikhosana.

“I couldn’t score in the semi-final, but I am proud as I contributed to both goals. I assisted Helman Mkhalele in our first goal, then I forced a corner that Innocent Mncwango took, and Gavin Lane scored with a header. 

“But when I was driving home,  listening to a radio sports talk show, people were blaming Jerry Sikhosana saying, ‘that guy is greedy, if we lose this cup, he is the one to blame.’

“That didn’t sit well with me, until Monday when we were supposed to go to training, I just absconded, because the anger was there.” 

When asked how he felt when he returned to the team to find that his teammates were happy to see him, he said: “That changed the whole mentality in me because I thought everybody was going to be angry, but I was more than welcomed.”

In the final, Pirates managed to beat Asec Mimosas of Ivory Coast away with Sikhosana scoring the important goal. Sikhosana says the situation was not comfortable and they had to be strong to make it through.

“For us it was more about what we saw on the outside, because everything was painted yellow and black, the colours of Asec Mimosas. We said to ourselves that if we keep a clean sheet, we can beat these guys, but we were denied the ball every time we wanted to attack. I don’t remember the whole first half.” 

Regardless of struggling with possession in the first half, Pirates went on to win that game and ultimately the cup.

Following his Champions League triumph with Pirates, he explained the financial rewards of achieving such a great feat. 

“We did get bonuses, a major achievement, and we got what was due to us. I was lucky because after the win I got a call from the chairman saying we can extend my one-year contract by another year. 

“I took all that money, including the bonuses I had (and consulted) people that were wiser in terms of money and they advised me to save.”

On making better money choices, Sikhosana expressed that taking advice about how to look after money is key. “The advice was that I should always invest my money so that I have something after football. Firstly, start with your home – and I didn’t even think twice, I just put all that money in the project. The house cost R110 000 to start from scratch; it was a lot of money back then and I was proud to put it in that (house) contract. 

“Lucky enough I got to Bafana Bafana (for 1996) and there were incentives, so I had to change the plan and get a bigger house. (With the incentives) I could manage the household and look after everyone 9in my family).

Expanding on the support he got from his family he said, “When I signed my first professional contract, I was always travelling, and I was still at school (at the time). It was hectic, but my parents were supportive. Most of the earnings I spent on my family. I had to get one (a bank account) as we were paid in envelopes and I had R45 000 under the pillow, which I then put in a safe and later took to the bank.”