Plaatjies, Khaiseb get contracts

TWO Namibian footballers turned professional when they signed two-year contracts with South African Premier Soccer League (PSL) clubs late last week.

Former Blue Waters and Brave Warriors left winger Sedney Plaatjies pulled off a two-year deal with Jomo Cosmos, while former Ramblers frontman Costa Khaiseb will look forward to banging in goals for Bush Bucks from this week. The business manager of the two players, Collin April, told The Namibian Sport at the weekend that the two players signed the contracts with an option to renew or leave the teams if they find better offers.April said Plaatjies, who is 25 this year, was snapped up by Cosmos after the side had been struggling in that department, while Khaiseb will join his fellow countryman Ricardo Mannetti at the relegation-threatened Bush Bucks.The two players have been searching for clubs since last season, with Khaiseb doing his last stint on the pitch for German lower-division side Tuschmidt.Plaatjies last played for the Brave Warriors in the Cosafa Castle Cup last year after he resigned from Blue Waters in search for better opportunities in South Africa.Plaatjies tried his luck with Mvela Golden league topper Bidvest Wits University, where three of his countrymen are also employed, but was not successful.April said Kaizer Chiefs were also interested in Plaatjies, but Cosmos wasted no time in signing him up after he impressed the club’s coach and owner Jomos Sono.The club’s website reports that the Namibian international impressed during trials in the last couple of months.Team Manager Kwezi Masondo confirmed the development, saying: “We are satisfied with Sydney’s quality and we have offered to sign him on a two-year contract after agreeing terms.”Plaatjies has five international caps and three goals to his credit.April said there is a lot of interest in Namibian players among South African teams and in the next week, he plans to take a goalkeeper, a defender and an attacking midfielder to South Africa for trials.He did not want to name the players that he identified, but said they are all involved with teams in the Namibia Premier League (NPL).”I really want to help Namibian players to realise their dreams.But overall, I want Namibia to qualify for the 2008 African Nations Cup and the 2010 World Cup.At this stage, it would be better to have more professional players who can take the country to those stages of world football,” he said.April said he would leave for England at the end of March, where he will be introducing two Namibians who are currently playing in the PSL to two premiership clubs there.He did not want to name the players, but said they are highly regarded in South African football and stand a chance to be signed up.April, who serves as business manager for most Namibian professional players, was instrumental in players such as Danzyl Bruwer (goalkeeper, Wits), Richard Gariseb (defender, Wits), Quinton Jacobs (midfielder, Ajax) and Paulus Shipanga (striker, Wits) getting contracts in South Africa.The business manager of the two players, Collin April, told The Namibian Sport at the weekend that the two players signed the contracts with an option to renew or leave the teams if they find better offers.April said Plaatjies, who is 25 this year, was snapped up by Cosmos after the side had been struggling in that department, while Khaiseb will join his fellow countryman Ricardo Mannetti at the relegation-threatened Bush Bucks.The two players have been searching for clubs since last season, with Khaiseb doing his last stint on the pitch for German lower-division side Tuschmidt.Plaatjies last played for the Brave Warriors in the Cosafa Castle Cup last year after he resigned from Blue Waters in search for better opportunities in South Africa.Plaatjies tried his luck with Mvela Golden league topper Bidvest Wits University, where three of his countrymen are also employed, but was not successful.April said Kaizer Chiefs were also interested in Plaatjies, but Cosmos wasted no time in signing him up after he impressed the club’s coach and owner Jomos Sono.The club’s website reports that the Namibian international impressed during trials in the last couple of months.Team Manager Kwezi Masondo confirmed the development, saying: “We are satisfied with Sydney’s quality and we have offered to sign him on a two-year contract after agreeing terms.”Plaatjies has five international caps and three goals to his credit.April said there is a lot of interest in Namibian players among South African teams and in the next week, he plans to take a goalkeeper, a defender and an attacking midfielder to South Africa for trials.He did not want to name the players that he identified, but said they are all involved with teams in the Namibia Premier League (NPL).”I really want to help Namibian players to realise their dreams.But overall, I want Namibia to qualify for the 2008 African Nations Cup and the 2010 World Cup.At this stage, it would be better to have more professional players who can take the country to those stages of world football,” he said.April said he would leave for England at the end of March, where he will be introducing two Namibians who are currently playing in the PSL to two premiership clubs there.He did not want to name the players, but said they are highly regarded in South African football and stand a chance to be signed up.April, who serves as business manager for most Namibian professional players, was instrumental in players such as Danzyl Bruwer (goalkeeper, Wits), Richard Gariseb (defender, Wits), Quinton Jacobs (midfielder, Ajax) and Paulus Shipanga (striker, Wits) getting contracts in South Africa.