Talented Plaatjie seen as great star in the making

FREE State Stars development coach, Themba Sithole said he was impressed with Makhosandile Plaatjie’s hard work, and would give him an opportunity to play in the Multichoice Diski Challenge when they take on Bloemfontein Celtic tomorrow at King Zwelithini Stadium.

Plaatjie made waves during this year’s Nedbank Ke Yona Challenge when he was part of the young side that lost 2-1 to SuperSport United at Makhulong Stadium in Tembisa.

Sithole had high hopes for the Alice-born PSL hopeful and said the dangerous young striker was doing very well at training. Hence he decided to put him in the starting lineup for their reserves game against their neighbours Phunya Sele Sele.

“He’s doing well even though there’s a bit of work that we still need to do. But he’s showing that he’s a good finisher and we just have to try and help him with his defence.

“Because in our days you don’t only go forward. You need to defend as well, but going forward he is quite dangerous, no doubt about that.

“Going into this weekend, he is definitely going to play because we are preparing him for the first team, and we don’t want to throw him in the deep before exposing him to top-flight football.”

Sithole said he first heard about Plaatjie from a friend – Brian Funda – who is also their provincial scout.

“He spoke to me about this boy before he went to Nedbank Ke Yona and I told him to bring him to me, but when he was supposed to come he didn’t. Because he was given instructions by the coaches there not to sign with anyone.

“I don’t know what was the reason for that, because Ke Yona team is not a club or anything like that. It’s just a game, and then the boys have to go and start afresh.”

Sithole said he didn’t regret giving the youngster another chance and, judging from what he’s seen at training, Plaatjie might sign his first topflight football contract before January.

“I think there’s a need here for strikers, because everybody is crying about strikers and Plaatjie can really finish.

“So we’ll give him a chance in the senior team as soon as we feel he is prepared. We are just putting him here at our development so we can work on a few things with him. Then we’ll send him to the seniors.

“He’s a very disciplined player and a hard worker as well, and we haven’t seen any signs of ill-discipline. He’s a clever boy, so he’s very good at taking instructions.”

Plaatjie said everything was going as planned, and the reception at the club has been motivating him to do more at training.

“The guys have a good spirit and I feel like I’m part of them and that is keeping me going every time I go to gym and coach Sithole is very helpful. Because he’s teaching me new things I didn’t know about myself and I’m just positive about being here.

“On Sunday I want to make the coach proud and show him my appreciation for having faith in me.”