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Cape Town - Former Orlando Pirates defender Thabo Matlaba has revealed that leaving the club to join Black Leopards was not about money but playing first-team football.
Matlaba was starved of game-time last season with the Sea Robbers but was offered a new contract by Dr Irvin Khoza though it was on reduced terms.
At the time, Khoza hinted that the left-back could not accept the offer as he had financial responsibilities.
As such, he joined Leopards on a two-year deal though he has since said it wasn't about the money.
He told KickOff: "Unfortunately I had to part ways with the team, but he [Dr Irvin Khoza] wanted me to stay, to be honest.
"But I could not stay, I wanted to play. It's not about money or anything like, I wanted to play football.
"I had been speaking to the Leopards officials for a while. I spoke to them before I was released at Pirates. I was in contact with them until I finalised my things with Pirates.
"In fact, I had decided that I was joining Leopards. I decided that if things don't go my way at Pirates I will go to Leopards, regardless of who is interested in me."
