Alan Robertson was "falling out of love" with soccer and contemplating a future as a chartered accountant before embarking on a footballing adventure that has offered a chance for a different taste of life.
It was early 2022 when the tall centre back, whose career started at University of Pretoria before moving to Stellenbosch FC, was told his contract would not be renewed at the end of the season.
It was a blow that hit hard and left Robertson, who then just turned 28, both bemused and hurt, and needing to make a decision over his future.
He had proven a stalwart through Stellenbosch's promotion to the top flight in 2019 and then their ups and downs in the DStv Premiership as they finished 10th in their first season, then narrowly avoided relegation in their second, but were busy heading to a top-four finish when he was told his services were no longer required.
"We had a really good start to that season, and were sitting fourth, but the club informed quite a few of us that they weren't going to renew," Robertson tells SoccerClub.
"Stellies was quite taxing on me. I sort of wanted to find a love of football again and just enjoy it. For a while, I had been wanting to use football as a means to travel as well as still play at a half decent level."
Then, with a touch of serendipity. Robertson was contacted from Asia, via his LinkedIn account.
This story is from the August 2023 edition of Soccer Club.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the August 2023 edition of Soccer Club.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
WORLD CUP DREAM BURNS BRIGHT
Neil Tovey Former Bafana Bafana captain
CONTINENTAL QUEENS
AS BANYANA BANYANA WAIT TO DEFEND THEIR TITLE AT THE WOMEN'S AFRICA CUP OF NATIONS, WE LOOK BACK AT THEIR PAST PERFORMANCES IN THE COMPETITION
TABLE TOPPERS
THE TOP 10 IN THE ALL-TIME PSL TABLE SINCE THE START OF THE 1996/97 SEASON MAKES FOR INTERESTING READING
WHO ARE BAYER LEVERKUSEN?
'Invincible' Bayer Leverkusen swept to a maiden German Bundesliga title in 2023/24. But who are they?
SET-PIECE SECRET
THE THROW-IN MAY SEEM A MUNDANE PART OF FOOTBALL, BUT THERE IS MUCH MORE TO IT THAN MEETS THE EYE
PSL SHARPSHOOTERS
AS THE NEW 2024/25 SEASON BEGINS, BOTH BRADLEY GROBLER AND PETER SHALULILE CAN TAKE AIM AT THE PREMIER SOCCER LEAGUE'S GOALSCORING RECORD AS WE RUN DOWN THE TOP MARKSMEN SINCE 1996
BALANCING THE BOOKS
CAPE TOWN CITY HAVE TO FOREVER SELL PLAYERS TO BREAK EVEN. HERE ARE 11 TOP STARS THEY HAVE ALLOWED TO LEAVE IN THE LAST FIVE YEARS
INTO THE BIG TIME
CLINTON LARSEN HAS LED LITTLE KNOWN LIMPOPO CLUB MAGESI FC TO THE ELITE LEAGUE OF SOUTH AFRICAN FOOTBALL
REDEMPTION
THEMBINKOSI LORCH FACES ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT SEASONS IN HIS CAREER IN 2024/25
AFRICA'S PIONEERS
AFRICA'S INFLUENCE ON ELITE EUROPEAN FOOTBALL IS NOT A NEW THING