When Sherif Suleiman traveled from Guinea to East Germany to study architecture in 1962, the then 17-year-old had no idea that within 12 months he would start reshaping East German football.
Nor that he will become the first player from Guinea to play in Europe. And one of the first Africans.
Today considered one of his country's greatest players, Suleiman traveled behind the Iron Curtain as part of a student exchange program with East Germany, then a communist country with close ties to the Soviet Union.
"I went to study architecture, not to go to another club," he told BBC Sport.
However, he soon found himself in a position to play in the second division, as his talent was spotted while playing for a college team in New Brandenburg, some 130 km north of Berlin.
"The coach of the local sports club from New Brandenburg invited me to play for them and I agreed."
Soon, he got the impression that he represented all black people on the field.
"I was the only black player in the whole of East Germany at that time and I was proud of it. I felt fantastic," says Suleiman, who is celebrating his 77th birthday these days.
The only player from Guinea ever to be named the best footballer in Africa enjoyed a small town club where he was known and loved by the whole community for both his skill and ability to score goals.
- The football match that closed the sky over America
- How Didier Drogba helped stop the Ivory Coast civil war
- Johan Cruyff and the magic of total football
His outstanding attacking play helped New Brandenburg reach the top tier of the competition, but he soon had to retire as foreigners were then banned from competing in the GDR Oberliga.
"I spent two seasons in New Brandenburg and I scored a lot of goals," he said.
"We finished the first season in 12th place and I was the top scorer, and the next year I helped them to be first."
"Then I left the club and went to Neustrelitz, where I stayed for one season, while the team finished in second place."
Children were touching me to see if it was coal on my skin
But although he was largely accepted in the small community, not everything was ideal for Suleimani, who claims that he also faced racism.
Either way, he didn't let it affect him in any way.
"I was very composed and felt good even though it was quite normal to be greeted with racist chants by fans of opposing teams," he says.
"The problem was that I was in a town where people hardly ever saw a black person. Some people asked me where I learned to play football, because they couldn't believe that a black player was able to score so many goals."
"In fact, the kids even touched me to see if it was coal sprinkled on my skin, to make sure I was really black."
"But I still enjoyed playing there because I was known throughout the city and because many people liked me because of my good playing. The mayor of New Brandenburg once invited me to lunch."
"I was young, but it was a good experience for me, as I never allowed myself to be shaken. That's why I kept scoring goals."
Suleiman played in East Germany for three years before returning home to Hafia from Conakry, where he became a superstar of African football.
- Eric Cantona: How to become a football icon in 11 steps
- Garincha - the crooked-legged fallen angel of Brazilian football
- "You wish, well, an institution": A century of football of Sarajevo's Zeljezničar - a story of love, city and war
Fame in the club, regret for the national team
Suleiman's career in East Germany was over when Guinea called him up for the first time to qualify for the 1965 All-Africa Games in Ivory Coast.
Instead of returning to Europe after that, he went to Conakry, the capital of Guinea, at the invitation of the state.
"Thus my studies and football career in Europe were finished," he says.
"I regret that I did not finish my studies in East Germany. I even later enrolled at the university in Conakry, but I never finished it either."
In any case, Suleiman's return to Guinea represented a shining part of his career as he continued to win trophies and individual awards.
He spent the rest of his career in Hafia, where he became part of the Golden Generation, which was not only the most successful team in Guinea, but also in Africa in the seventies.
The versatile player, who started his career as a forward before moving to midfield and finally ending up as a defender, was regarded as a star for scoring and setting up goals, as well as for his brilliant passing and good maneuvering.
As a central striker during the 70s, he was part of a killer attack that included Petit Sori and Njo Lea.
The trio helped Hafia reach five African Cup finals - the forerunner of today's Champions League - and three continental titles in 1972, 1975 and 1977.
During the first triumph, he scored with both legs against Simba of Uganda, finishing the competition as the tournament's top scorer with four goals.
This achievement earned him the title of African Footballer of the Year in the selection of France Football.
"Winning the Ballon d'Or was a special moment for me, my country and my teammates," he says.
"It put us on the football map of Africa."
- Garincha - the crooked-legged fallen angel of Brazilian football
- The best football movie of all time - how "Beg u pobede" was made
- "My people, is it possible" - soccer moments remembered by fans in Serbia
Suleiman was voted Guinea's best footballer of the 20th century, having helped his national team qualify for their first African Cup of Nations in 1970, and then repeated the feat in 1974 and 1976.
He played in all three tournaments, and Guinea finished second in 1976, their best result in the Cup of Nations.
Guinea let go of the lead in the final moments of the final match against Morocco.
The result was a draw, 1:1, and this was the only championship in which the order was decided by the group stage, and not by the final game itself.
Sulejman still calls that match the "worst moment" of his career.
"We should have beaten Morocco and won the trophy. We were very close," Suleiman said. "I was playing defense that day, but I scored a goal for us to take the lead."
"We were leading 1:0 until five minutes before the end of the game, when the Moroccans equalized and won the tournament based on the number of points they collected."
He officially said goodbye to football in 1980, as a player who started his career behind the Iron Curtain, but returned from there despite the fame he gained there.
Watch a video about Arsenal's young football hope
Follow us on Facebook i Twitter. If you have a topic suggestion for us, please contact bbcnasrpskom@bbc.co.uk
Bonus video:
