Tiny star with a big heart
MBATHA: DE SA KNOWS MY POTENTIAL
Midfielder says he will take his chance with both hands.
If the old saying that dynamite comes in small packages is to be believed, Platinum Stars coach Roger de Sa will hope to have found his own little weapon in speedy youngster Sibongakonke Mbatha.
The pint-sized 19-year-old midfielder has been getting decent game time since De Sa took over and said he hopes to repay his faith in him.
“I am grateful that new coach Roger de Sa has seen potential in me and has given me a chance. That means a lot to me ... I have to grab it with both hands. I have been waiting for a chance to play in the PSL for a very long time,” said Mbatha, who is an Under-20 international.
Mbatha has played five matches for Dikwena and was named Man-of-the-Match for his good efforts against Chippa United recently but he feels he could give more for the team by scoring a few goals.
“As an attacker, it’s not really nice playing so many games without scoring a goal. With the quality that I have as an attacker, I have to score goals. That’s what I am lacking right now. I want to score more than ten goals and provide assists for my team-mates,” he said.
Mbatha hopes his first goal will come tomorrow night when they play Orlando Pirates at the FNB Stadium in an Absa Premiership match. Stars really need to start collecting full points if they are to avoid being dragged into the muddy waters of the relegation zone.
Dikwena are bottom of the standings with just two points collected in seven matches.
“We don’t deserve to be down there,” said Mbatha.
“We have good quality in the team. We will get out of there. It’s just a matter of working hard and scoring goals. I don’t see a team of this calibre staying there. Hard work and giving extra effort will get us out of there,” he said.