Former Bafana Bafana midfielder Maimane Phiri has shared how Romelu Lukaku's father helped him settle into life in Turkey back in the 90s.
Soccer Laduma got in touch with the retired star to talk about his incredible journey in Turkey, which saw him winning the Turkish Cup in 2001, playing over 150 games there.
The clubs
I was in Turkey from 1996 to 2002. I played for Genclerbirligi, Samsonspor and Vanspor. Overall, it was a great experience. I got to see snow for the first time in my life when I went to Turkey. I had never experienced cold weather like that before. We had cold weather from December until April. It was very cold. The culture was different. It's a Muslim country and there was hardly any English. The food was different and the language was not the easiest. I also had to get used to the time difference.
How the move happened
I remember I was at Cosmos and we were playing against Mthatha Bucks. They saw me while I was playing against Mthatha Bucks. I came on as a substitute after 30 minutes and I had a very good game. The scouts from Turkey were there and they were impressed. Augusto Palacios was also there and he was one of the guys who made the move possible. They came to watch our training on Tuesday and they said 'we want the number 20'. After training, Jomo Sono told me to go Sun International to speak to the Turkish guys. I got there and I did not see them. I had to wait for some time before they came. Augusto was there as well. We sat down and they told me that they want to take me to Turkey. The only flight I had ever taken before that was to Durban when we went to play against African Wanderers. They told me to bring clothing for cold weather.
The rands and cents
I was earning around R30 000 (in Turkey). At Cosmos, I was earning I think R1000. That was a lot of money at the time because we had come from amateur football where we were not earning anything and then Bra J gives you R1000. It made a difference because I could take R500 or R600 and give it to my mother and then I would be able to use the rest for myself to buy clothes and so on. When I went to Turkey, I got about R30 000. It was not a lot, because I think the late Thomas Madigage was earning R25 000 at SuperSport United at the time. So, I was like 'what's the use? I might as well go back home'. But, at the same time, I wanted to change mine and my family's life. I wanted to be a better person and I went there because I wanted to achieve things. I had a dream and it came true very quickly.
My first day in Europe
We met at the airport (in Johannesburg) and the we flew via Frankfurt and we connected to Instanbul and then we went to Ankara, where the team was based. It was a different culture and everything was new. I remember we got there around 8am and they picked us up and we went to the club house. I did my medicals and everything and trained with the team. Only a few of them understood English. I signed everything with the team and Jomo said he would send my clearance once they send the transfer fee. They paid the money and Bra J released the clearance. It was the first time I slept at 7pm that day. The food was terrible when I got there because they boiled everything. You know we are used to steak, gravy and so on. So it was not easy. My teammates left because they stayed at their own houses and I stayed alone in the club house. It felt like I was in prison and I could not watch any English channels, so that's why I decided to sleep at 7pm. My first day was very difficult.
My debut
We played against Besiktas away from home. I think we lost 2-1 and I had a very good game. I arrived on a Wednesday and trained the same day and trained against on Thursday and Friday. Then on Friday we left for Instanbul and then on Saturday we played against Besiktas. They had Daniel Amokachi in their team. At the time, I didn't know him. I was blank. I played with Romelu Lukaku's father, Roger. He was a tall guy and he played for Zaire (now DRC). I think he was 31 or 32 at the time. He didn't speak English because he was French speaking, but he accommodated me. He made me to feel at home and he was the one who told me that the stuff in the mini-bar had to be paid for if I drank them. We lost 2-1 to Besiktas.
The best player I played with
He was not a great player, but he had brain. It's Geremi Njitap. He was signed by Real Madrid after he left. He was not a fancy guy, but he knew how to do the work and to cover the pitch. He was a good striker of the ball. Roger Lukaku was another one. He would invite me to his house and we would have dinner. He would make me forget that I was not home. I didn't miss home much because of guys like him.
The best player I played against
There's plenty. The legendary Gheorghe Hagi, the Romanian. The late John 'Shoes' Moshoeu, the legendary Jay Jay Okocha from Nigeria, as well as Daniel Amokachi. I also played against our own Fani Madida, Donald 'Ace' Khuse and Helman Mkhalele. They were all in Turkey.
