Plaatjies still out in the cold

TRANSFER-listed Mamelodi Sundowns defender Sydney Plaatjies still faces the reality of finishing the year on the sidelines.

The Namibian defender is not part of the first team training sessions along with goalkeeper Thembalethu Moses and Manqoba ‘Shakes’ Ngwenya.The three players are still contracted to the Brazilians but are not training with the rest of the first team players. They are only keeping active by working out in the gym.Plaatjies, who returned to Chloorkop after having spent the last half of the past season on loan at Moroka Swallows, admits to the frustration of being a mere passenger.’Nothing is happening as I am just training in the gym, away from the first team. I haven’t kicked a ball in weeks now since the development team that I was training with left Chloorkop. ‘The last time that I spoke to management we didn’t come to a conclusion. They said they would come back to me but that hasn’t happened up to now. I am just hoping for something to happen so that I play football again. ‘My situation is so bad that even when I was called to the national team (Namibia) for a recent friendly match against Swaziland, I wasn’t at my best, fitness wise, although I did play,’ says Plaatjies.Sundowns’ spokesman Alex Shakoane would only acknowledge the continued presence of Plaatjies at the club.’He (Plaatjies) is still with the club and is here at the Sundowns premises. He remains a part of the club and has to keep working. He is on transfer,’ says Shakoane.With the transfer window closed, Plaatjies will only be able to join another team in January when the window re-opens again.The only other option for Plaatjies is that he can only join another team if he is declared a free agent. – Kick-Off