When he walked off the Makhulong Stadium pitch on Saturday, Josta Dladla was shown a lot of love by Moroka Swallows fans, who wanted to touch his hand and congratulate him after the team's victory.

The Dube Birds had just won 1-0 over Highlands Park and Dladla was one of the star performers in a different Swallows side which features the likes of James Bell, Tshepo Moloto and Aleni Lebyane.

Dladla, 36, is enjoying life in the National First Division, even though he admits he struggled to adjust to the big pay cut after leaving Kaizer Chiefs at the end of last season. "It's a big change but it's a sacrifice you need to take.

"You adjust because you come into this world without the money. If I can't make the money I used to make, that's life. There are other benefits out there," Dladla said.

"Sometimes you get money and you don't get game time and you are not happy. As a footballer you want to play. For me it was also about the challenge, trying to get Swallows back in the PSL. I achieved everything in the PSL. Now I have a new challenge. Swallows were the ones who came to me. I'd be lying if I said there were other options for me in the PSL," he said.

Dladla is confident he can keep up with some of the youngsters in the First Division and is not yet thinking about calling it quits.

"My goal was to play until 37, but people say I can play until I am 40. I will take it a season at a time. It's been great here and we are learning everyday. NFD is a tough league."

Swallows are on six points after three matches. The Dube Birds host Mbombela United at Dobsonville Stadium in Soweto on Saturday.