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Cape Town - Bournemouth FC coach Eddie Howe has revealed Bafana Bafana forward Tokelo Rantie has shown major improvements behind the scenes at the Cherries in the Championship, the second tier of English football.
Read: Did Shakes make obscene gesture?
According to the Daily Echo, Howe confirmed the hard work ‘TK’ is putting in on the training ground in order to adapt to their playing style and environment.
“TK has worked very hard behind the scenes on all aspects of his game and we are seeing real improvements,” said Howe.
“We have been delighted with his attitude when he hasn’t featured and he is a really good guy to coach. There is a lot of potential to his game and we are pleased with where he is.”
“It was always going to be difficult for him to adjust quickly when you consider the change in environment and he has been through a lot in the past year off the pitch.”
Rantie has been a regular in the Bafana Bafana squad and Howe sees the effects taking its toll on the striker with all the travelling involved.
The Parys-born forward came under scrutiny the last time he featured for the national side which was a goalless draw in their AFCON 2015 qualifier against Congo in Polokwane in midweek.
Sport24 rated his performance as '4/10' on the night and described his outing as “a rather forgettable display where he failed to provide any threat” and “will need to work much harder if he wants to keep his place in the side with Kermit Erasmus and David Zulu no doubt providing (coach) Shakes Mashaba with some very good alternative options.”
Nevertheless, Howe admits that the 24-year-old has “developed his game and made big strides” since making the switch from Swedish club Malmo FF in 2013.
“I have said it is going to be a big season for TK and have seen nothing that will change my mind on that. As with all the other players, I am sure he will get his opportunity to stake a claim in the first team very soon.”
“He is certainly a player who can make a difference for us and create something out of nothing so, hopefully, there are exciting times just around the corner for him.”
