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Baby brings Daine glut of goals

Nov 14, 2009 11:24 PM | By Bareng-Batho Kortjaas

The stork appears to have brought Daine Klate more than a bouncing baby boy - it has also gifted him with a goal glut.


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THE LONG AND THE SHORT: Daine Klate, left, is congratulated by lanky SuperSport teammate Anthony Laffor after scoring the second of his two goals against AmaZulu in an Absa Premiership match this month Picture: GALLO IMAGES
THE LONG AND THE SHORT: Daine Klate, left, is congratulated by lanky SuperSport teammate Anthony Laffor after scoring the second of his two goals against AmaZulu in an Absa Premiership match this month Picture: GALLO IMAGES

"Since my son was born on September 29 I just can't stop scoring," says Klate. "And they come in twos."

He celebrated his Bafana Bafana recall with a double as SuperSport United beat AmaZulu 4-2 last weekend.

It was the third of a hat trick of twosomes - Klate contributed two goals in the 3-0 drubbing of Orlando Pirates and another two in the 5-0 humbling of Mpumalanga Black Aces.

Klate, who won only one cap under Joel Santana, is part of the team that hosted Japan in his Port Elizabeth home town yesterday and will battle with Jamaica in Bloemfontein on Tuesday.

It is a shame that a player who has been synonymous with consistency has achieved only five caps since earning his first call under Stuart Baxter in 2005.

"At times I felt I deserved to be in the national team but I always knew I had to be patient.

"I need to make use of the opportunity because there are other good players in my position. Steven Pienaar and Siphiwe Tshabalala are good and Franklyn Cale is doing well too. Scoring makes a huge difference in supporting one's case."

The wicked wing wizard had to overcome obstacles and deal with a dressing-down from demanding coach Gavin Hunt to become one of the best players in the Absa Premiership.

By his own admission, he was a weakling when he arrived at United in 2004.

"I hated the running and in my first season we ran so much that I ended up vomiting. How could I become a good professional when I vomit at training?

"It was embarrassing. I vowed to work hard to be able to make an impact in the league."

Klate credits former teammate Siboniso Gaxa with the fact that he is one of the fittest players at United today.

"When I joined SuperSport I stayed with Siboniso in Atteridgeville. He taught me how to run up and down the hills until I was dog tired."

Klate, who grew up in Gelvandale, Port Elizabeth - Bafana teammate Elrio van Heerden was a neighbour - once cried at being on the receiving end of hairdryer treatment by Hunt in the MTN8 clash with Tshwane rivals Mamelodi Sundowns.

"He was roasting me at halftime. Things were said in the heat of the moment and you get emotional.

"You must know something's wrong the moment the coach does not shout or scream at you. He was pushing me to do more."

The push produced the desired effect as Klate scored twice in a 3-2 defeat.

The coach-player relationship was not adversely affected by the confrontation.

"Gavin is an aggressive coach, sometimes he gives you stick. He is a passionate person and believes in his players."

Hunt and Klate were voted coach and player of the month as SuperSport made a clean sweep with midfielder Thandanani Ntshumayelo clinching the young player prize.

The 24-year-old Klate has not allowed the fame of winning back to back league titles go to his head. He remains grounded, respectful and accommodating, thanks to his grandparents.

"My mother, aunts and uncles also played a major role in the kind of person I am today."

Even in death, his grandmother Susan Daaitjies, who died in 2002, is a pillar in his life.

"I am sure she is smiling right now because her wish was for me to be in the national team."

With United at the top of the log standings at the halfway mark, Klate is optimistic about the prospect of a hat trick of league titles.

"We have got 30 points from 15 games. Another 30 will give us 60, five more than our total last season."

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