IF THERE is one thing Gora Ebrahim will regret for the rest of his life, it is the moment of madness when he kicked his coach Walter Rautmann in the chest, landing the poor Austrian-born mentor in hospital with fractured ribs.

Ebrahim, who was playing for Rabali Blackpool at the time, was escorted out of the Thohoyandou Stadium by police for his own safety.

The incident still haunts the former Dynamos and Orlando Pirates centre-back though it happened 17 years ago.

The former Dynamos and Orlando Pirates centre-back is still remorseful for his action on that fateful day.

MN: What happened on that dramatic day?

GR: I lost my cool when Walter replaced me and I kicked him. Whatever happened there happened in the heat of the moment.

I have apologised to Walter and to everybody affected. If I could replay (that day) I would obviously hope that things would turn out differently.

That, for me, signalled the end of my career. I came home that day and told my wife that it's over for me in football. I told her that I would concentrate on my books.

Tell us more.

I was not even 29 years old at the time. It was very embarrassing and out of character. I was the captain of the team and guys looked up to me. As a professional it shouldn't have happened. As a result of a rush of blood to the head, I have paid the highest price. I paid with my career.

Did Rautmann accept your apology?

I don't know if he did. A lot of things happened in the aftermath of that incident. Walter said this, Gora said that.

But I think the incident was sensationalised and that did not help me and Walter to come face to face.

I think I have apologised once or twice but not directly to him. If he wasn't aware of it (the apology) then I will take this opportunity to say it again. I'm extremely sorry for what happened.

I'm sorry for what happened in terms of your health and your family. I wish you the best going forward.

When did you start playing the game competitively?

I started as a 15-year-old with Vereeniging Old Boys. They were an organised team, campaigning in the Federation Professional League.

Who did you play with while you were growing up in Vereeniging?

We played gambling games against the likes of Augustine Makalakalane, Neil Jansen and Mabena Monnakgotla. Makalakalane was a very good player. They used to play me as a goalkeeper, then upfront and later in the midfield. I felt very comfortable playing in the middle of the park because I was fairly skilful, you see.

When did you convert to defence?

Dynamos converted me into a centre-back.

Who recruited you to Dynamos?

It was Gordon Inglis who was my coach at Swaraj.

What did you win at Dynamos?

The 1991 John Player Special Cup after beating Blackpool that had Shoes Moshoeu and company. It was my first cup. I was also a footballer of the year finalist for Sunday Times but I did not win. I stayed there until 1992.

Where did you go thereafter?

At the end of 1992 I was called up for a Bafana Bafana camp after our readmission to world football. Augusto Palacios was in charge at that time. While I was at camp I heard that Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates were interested in me.

You ended up at Pirates. Why?

It was the manager at Dynamos who sold me to Pirates.

Where was your heart at that time, with Pirates or Chiefs?

At that time Pirates were a very under- achieving team. The team to beat at that time was Kaizer Chiefs but I was not allowed to go to Chiefs.

I went to Pirates instead. But when I came to Pirates, I came to realise what a big club Pirates was. They were massive.

Who recruited you to Blackpool?

When Rautmann came in he signed me for Rabali Blackpool who were by then last on the log and they wanted high-profile players to help them escape relegation.

.

• This article was first published in the printed newspaper and eEdition on 28 November 2012. Click on this link to view the eEdition