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Cape Town - Kaizer Chiefs coach Ernst Middendorp is impressed by the impact Reeve Frosler has made at the club since arriving from Bidvest Wits last season.
The 21-year-old defender struggled for game-time under Wits by coach Gavin Hunt, with Bafana Bafana captain Thulani Hlatshwayo preferred at right-back instead of centre-back at the Students.
Whilst he had experience of playing at the Fifa Under-17 and an Under-20 World Cups, Froslet arrived at Amakhosi in January out of form, and made little impact.
Since then, he has had a full preseason at Naturena behind him and has made the right-back position his own, keeping right-back Ramahlwe Mphahlele on the bench.
Speaking to the media on Tuesday, Middendorp reminded his squad that the season is a long one and that opportunities will present itself for everyone.
“I’m very happy with the development of Reeve Frosler‚ coming out of eight‚ nine months where he was sitting on the side," Middendorp said.
“But‚ OK‚ he is a national [Under-23] team player – he has to go there‚ he comes back‚ and he’s been in another environment. It’s normal that there will be a certain up and down.
“And normally when you build a different dynamic with a team‚ with players coming back [from injury]‚ and new players coming in‚ and with a new idea of higher pressing‚ I think actually [even on Saturday in Chiefs' defeat against Polokwane City] you saw this discipline.
“The occupying the spaces was very good‚ we got the ball much better in the second half‚ and I did not see any opportunity to score for Polokwane in the second half.
“And if you get a goal from one of the earlier opportunities that we had‚ then you will not just get the one goal.
“We have to be realistic. It’s a long journey‚ a long process – the season has just started. And now we start fresh and prepare for the next game.”
Saturday's 1-0 defeat to City was Chiefs' first of the season and they meet AmaZulu at King Zwelithini Stadium next Tuesday in their next match.
Kick-off is at 15:00.
