Klate: Big risks, big rewards

Johannesburg - Orlando Pirates winger Daine Klate admits leaving SuperSport United three seasons ago was a risky move, but insists he has no regrets.

According to the Football411.com website, Klate had been part of the Matsatsantsa team that won three successive PSL titles from 2008 to 2010, but made the shock decision to leave Gavin Hunt's side for the Soweto giants.

However, that move proved to be a shrewd one as the 28-year-old has since gone on to win back-to-back trebles with the Buccaneers, who are currently in the hunt for a third straight league crown of their own.

Those titles successes mean Klate is the only current PSL player to have won five league titles, and says he is delighted at the way things have gone for him in Parktown.

"I can't believe it's been three seasons already. First of all, I'm grateful to Pirates for extending my contract by a further two years," he told Football411 in an exclusive interview.

"It was a big risk for me leaving SuperSport so it was honestly difficult for me to leave at the time. They had just won their third league title in a row and I was Player of the Season. I was playing regularly, but in the end it was about measuring myself and seeing how good I am really.

"It is one thing being good for one team, but another thing being good for Pirates so I think the past three years have been fruitful for me.

"So from where I'm standing now, this has been a good move for me and I'm glad my contract with Pirates has been renewed for two more years.

"I think I have achieved a lot and I have played regularly for Pirates, which was important for me. I would say I'm looking forward to the next two years."

Meanwhile, the Bafana Bafana international believes the Soweto giants are still very much in with a chance to win the league this season, despite their rivals Kaizer Chiefs being five points ahead.

"I think the league is still there for the taking. My experience over the past five seasons tells me that there was no team that ran away with the league, so it comes down to the last five games where you play with immense pressure," he added.

"We will see who has got the mentality to go all the way. We still have a big chance."