Daylon Claasen recalls how he narrowly missed out on potentially signing for Premier League outfit Everton after training with the Toffees for two weeks.
Claasen has enjoyed a stellar career that has seen him turn out in the Netherlands, Germany, Poland, Belgium and Egypt.
But the Klerksdorp-born attacker could potentially have signed for Everton back in the 2013/14 season, had it not been for a series of unfortunate events.
Speaking exclusively to the Siya crew, Claasen details how he spent two weeks training at Finch Farm under the watchful eye of then coach David Moyes. With Steven Pienaar one of the club's most important players at the time, Claasen had an excellent reference point.
Moyes would go as far as inviting Claasen on the club's pre-season tour, on condition that his own move to Manchester United does not materialise; however, Moyes would then sign for the Red Devils, which in turn, saw Claasen's opportunity at Everton fall through.
"I was lucky enough to go on trial at Everton when Steven Pienaar was there, and [David] Moyes was on the verge of leaving to go to Manchester United," he said.
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"I was training with Everton, but this was towards the end of the season, and I stayed there for two weeks and his words to me was, 'if I do remain at Everton then I should come back and go on pre-season with the team, meaning I didn't sign yet, but he's interested in having another look, but I must come at the beginning of the season and then train with the guys and stuff.
"But obviously it didn't happen. So, if Moyes didn't go to Manchester United, then I would have gone back to Everton and basically done the pre-season with them.
"I just left Belgium 'because I played there for three years. So, when I left Belgium and then before I joined the Polish team Lech Poznan, I actually got to go train with them [Everton].
"There was a good South African reference where they were looking for a carbon copy of Steven Pienaar who was doing so well at Everton, so obviously they wanted to have a look to see if I could be that. At the time my agent also, Rob Moore was also unbelievable, he did miracles. So, for me that's why I say, 'everything just happened at the right time'.
"But just the Moyes thing of going to Manchester United, so it wasn't meant to be. But I'm still grateful for my career and I feel blessed that I was able to experience what I've experienced," he added.
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