The best is yet to come

It is very early days for Maart at Chiefs. He has played just 14 matches so far, so it is quite early to judge him too harshly. It is clear that he is an excellent passer of the ball with both

feet and adept at receiving on the half-turn. That alone places him amongst just a couple of other players in the local game. We’ve see him have fine performances, such as in the Soweto Derby victory, but also difficult outings, such as the 4-0 loss to Mamelodi Sundowns, who pressed Maart ruthlessly.

For the coming weeks, the coach should be sticking with Blom as his holding midfielder, keeping it simple on the ball and breaking up play with his energy. Blom can give the ball to Maart, who can be the one to break lines and find the varied options at Amakhosi’s disposal in attack. The Atlantis-born playmaker can find Ngcobo or Dolly between the lines, can hit balls over the top for the pace of Du Preez, he can switch play to a one-versus-one specialist winger in Kgaogelo Sekgota or he can get the ball to the feet of a Khama Billiat or a BonfilsCaleb Bimenyimana to bring others into play or to hold it up.

As for his Bafana ambitions, it is difficult to know if Broos will recall him without knowing what concerns the 70-year-old Belgian has about Maart’s performances. He has not

told the media anything specific about the player’s “poor form”, but it is hoped that he has privately informed Maart about what he wants to see improved, whether it’s breaking up play, positional nous or anything else. For the first time in a while, South Africa has a nice mix of central midfielders to choose from in Timm, Mokoena, Blom, Sphephelo Sithole, Maart and so forth. If the latter focuses on his club form and being more consistent, more international recognition should be a natural consequence.