Salisbury United soccer player apologises for racially abusing Playford City opponent Salisbury United player Matthew Bekirovski was found guilty of making a racist comment to Playford Patriots player Elvis Kamsoba. (right). The pair are sharing their story to combat racism in sport. IT TOOK Salisbury United soccer player Matt Bekirovski just a few moments to realise what he had said to Playford City's Elvis Kamsoba was wrong. But not long after the word "monkey" came out of Bekirovski's mouth during a State League game on May 11, Burundi-born Kamsoba had a tear running down his cheek. I lost it. When I heard it I was like 'why would you say that?' I was just feeling really sad - the only difference between us is the skin," Kamsoba said. Bekirovski, 23, admitted racially vilifying Kamsoba, 17, at a Football Federation SA tribunal hearing last month and was hit with a three-game suspension. The two clubs - northern rivals which have a long-held mutual respect for one another - formed a united front to tackle the issue, which led Bekirovski to make three separate apologies. The first was to Kamsoba immediately after the game. Then he read a written apology to his own teammates, including a group of African born players, at training. The biggest step came when he went to Playford City training and said sorry to Kamsoba in front of the entire Patriots squad. "It was daunting," Bekirovski said. But I knew it was the right thing to do. Speaking last week, Bekirovski says he wholeheartedly regrets the "spur of the moment" slur, deeming it "completely out of character." He says the apologies and two other moments from the days after the incident have helped the effects of racism hit home. Salisbury United made Bekirovski coach new arrivals, including African juniors, at the club during his ban - something that will continue later in the season. "These kids have come from poverty almost ... so it made me open my eyes a bit more about the situation, the way they get brought up and the names they get called," he says. Bekirovski's dad, Michael, also told him stories about being called a "wog" after migrating from Albania to Australia in the 1960s. "My old man being a new Australian told me a few stories about what he was called and how it is hurtful," he said. What happened to me has put things in perspective. Kamsoba moved to Australia with his family five years ago. He grew up playing soccer in a Tanzanian refugee camp - after fleeing war-torn Burundi as a toddler - and he and his friends would use an inflated condom filled with clothes as a ball and sticks for goals. Kamsoba, of Elizabeth Downs, has also grown up as a devout Christian, which he says made it easier to forgive Bekirovski. "When the apology happened I was OK, I just said 'just don't say it again'," Kamsoba says. Everyone makes mistakes sometimes. "He learnt a lesson, now everything is sorted," Kambosa said. Now we're cool. Both players and clubs are now hoping to put the incident behind them. Bekirovski is eyeing promotion with Salisbury United, while Kamsoba, who has scored 14 goals in 16 matches, is set to train with Adelaide United's youth team this week.