Former Bidvest Wits striker Calvin Kadi has revealed he almost committed suicide five months before he signed a professional contract with Jomo Cosmos in 2003.
Kadi said he felt hopeless after losing his scholarship at the University of Pretoria but Nhlanhla Shabalala's words of encouragements changed his way of thinking.
Shabalala, who is currently the secretary-general of the Sout African Football Players' Union (Safpu), was at the time playing for Ajax Cape Town.
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"In April 2003, after I had lost my scholarship at Tuks, I was forced to stay at home kicking my heels and feeling hopeless.