Daine Klate

Bidvest Wits midfielder has been a stalwart in the Premier Soccer League since coming onto the scene in 2004. Zola Doda catches up with the 31-year-old as he discusses his resurgence in form this season.

Still going strong, and aiding Wits’ title challenge

One of the most decorated South African footballers of the modern generation, Daine Klate has already won every domestic trophy on offer, including five Premiership titles in a row. The in-form Port Elizabethborn attacker has contributed massively to BidvestWits’ fight for a maiden League title since joining at the start of the season.

KICK OFF: You’ve been in good nick this season. What would you put the resurgence in your form down to? DAINE KLATE: Firstly, it’s the new environment that I find myself in atWits, and that I’ve previously worked and been successful with Gavin Hunt. He knows me better than any other coach, so he obviously allows me a bit more freedom in terms of playing up front – I’ve become more of a box-player than anything else. Even when I was at SuperSport United, coach Gordon Igesund would allow me to move a little more in-field because he knows I’m a good passer of the ball. So my role has definitely changed since I left Orlando Pirates, and I have a little bit more freedom to score more goals. You are quite close to equalling your record of goals in a single season (10). Is that something you’ve set your sights on this year? I’ve always set myself a benchmark of 10 per season. I also pride myself on assists, so in terms of the two, I’ve been involved in a lot of our goals this season. But there’s always room for improvement. Wits have finished in third place for the past two seasons, and now the team looks poised to finish at least one better. What sort of role have you found yourself playing? I’ve always said that it’s no use me coming here toWits and telling the guys what to do and how to do it; it’s about me showing them on the pitch, and I’ve been fortunate enough to be having a good season. There’s no better way than to be leading by example, so I’m really happy with what I’ve contributed ntributed so far. If you take ke any other season then two wo points per game would be enough to win the League, e, but Sundowns are having ving an absolute blinder r of a season and we e can’t take anythingng away from them. We can just focus on ourselves, and hopefullyopefully we still stand a chance to clinch the title in the run-in to the end of the campaign.mpaign. If you had to pinpoint areas thehe club needs to improveve on in order to ensure they do get that elusivee title, what would you say is still lacking? The club is doing everything they can to cover all angles; it’s a brilliant atmosphere to be in, and the club is well run – everything is set. If you look at the English Premier League: Leicester City and Tottenham Hotspur average around two points per game, but are in contention for the League title. Most leagues work that way, with the exception of Bayern Munich or Barcelona, who are way ahead. Wits is definitely on the right track, and if this was another season we would have been in strong contention for the title. It has been a while since you have personally won silverw silverware. How frustrating has tha that been? I wouldn’t say it’s frustrating. I know I won’tw win everything alla the time, so now atWits it’s aboutabo adding value anda helping them.them My goals at alla my clubs havehav always been to help the team get a trophy, more than a medal for myself. You have a year lef left on your contract at Wits. Do you see yourselfyour heading beyond that? There’s also an option available which I’d like tot see out, but I can only take it from there. But I’d like to try myself out somewhere – perhaps China or maybe Dubai. I’m pretty keen on trying that avenue out if the opportunity arises. What is your current stance on Bafana Bafana, and do you still have any ambitions of wearing the yellow jersey? My peak years have come and gone and I wasn’t part of the set-up, so it’s probably time for other people to come through now. If called upon, I would probably be available, but in the long term the Keagan Dollys and Kamo Mokotjos need to have the team built around them if we are to compete. Would you say never featuring at a major international tournament is a failure? It’s just … sometimes things are out of your control. If you were Player of the Season before theWorld Cup, what more do you do to get into the squad? You just have to make peace with the fact. That’s one of the things in my career that wasn’t meant to be; the same as making a move to Europe as well. At 31, do you think it is too late to make either one of those a reality? I’ve got other ambitions of being successful beyond football now. You can’t keep harping on about dreams that have constantly passed you by ... you have to make other plans. I need to now get a degree to be successful beyond football. In terms of football, I don’t think there’s a lot in the future for me.

“Youu can’t keep harping on about dreams tha that have constantly passed you by ...”