Reeve Frosler could be an important piece of the puzzle for club and country in the future, writes Mazola Molefe.
Reeve Frosler is showing signs of being back to his best again – the kind of consistency needed if the Kaizer Chiefs utility player is to catch Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos’ attention.
When he moved to the Soweto club from Bidvest Wits early in 2019, then Amakhosi coach Ernst Middendorp saw this as a massive coup for the club considering the complex nature of January deals.
The following season, when the player had become an integral part of the squad, the German tactician told journalists it was impossible to omit Frosler from his team after playing him out of position during the Soweto Derby.
It opened the door for Middendorp to explore with the former youth international as a defender, full
back and midfielder.
Reports of interest from France, Germany and Major League Soccer clubs around that time came as little surprise, but with coaching changes at Naturena between then and now this has naturally affected Frosler. But he has bounced back.
“Obviously leaving Wits for Chiefs has been a great move for Reeve,” says Paul Mitchell, director at SSG, an agency representing the player for several years now since he turned professional.
“I think he has kicked on again on the pitch, recently married, became a father. And yes, there has been interest in Reeve at different levels and places – locally and internationally as well.”
Frosler is making a habit out of being on the radar of European scouts and clubs constantly looking at the Premier Soccer League for talent.
When Chiefs accepted an offer from Romanian Super League outfit FCSB for centre back Siyabonga Ngezana in June last year, the same club also enquired whether Frosler could also be part of the deal.
“We had an offer to go overseas, but we discussed it at length … from both a personal and football side. But we felt it wasn’t the right move. We have the experience of the market and we know different areas and countries as well as their pitfalls and their upsides,” Mitchell explained.
“In terms of the deals we have done out of Africa over the years we just felt, collectively with Reeve and his family, that it wasn’t the right move for him. He is in a great space at Chiefs – at a top club.
“He loves it there and obviously we are always looking at possibilities outside of South Africa. But if he makes that move it has to be right for him and his family, fundamentally better than Chiefs.”
This is not to say Frosler, still only 26, does not have the desire to go abroad and assess his ability outside SA borders.
But the young player feels there is still some unfinished business at Amakhosi, a team desperately looking to end their trophy drought of nearly nine years.
“He is determined to help the club get their mojo back,” added Mitchell, citing the almost ever-present campaign so far as a clear sign of this.
“They want trophies in the cabinet. I think he’s done really well playing at right- and left back. He can be utilised as a six as well, and I am sure coach Cavin Johnson has seen him there too in training – his numbers are revealing. He has a great assist ratio, delivery, is aggressive in the tackle and a good engine. Reeve is one of the most technically polished players in the PSL.”
Mitchell has been working with Frosler since he was only 14 years old, and the agency brought him up from Gqeberha to join Wits.
“This guy made the first team at 17 after Glen Salmon converted him from midfield to right back, where he thrived and developed really well under Gavin Hunt and then won the league [in 2017] with the club in his first full season. He hasn’t skipped any stage at national team level, representing SA at u/17, u/20 and u/23 at the Olympic Games as well, and has had caps at Bafana,” his agent elaborates.
Because of this sort of history, it is likely then that Frosler has not given up on making more appearances for Broos, especially after the Afcon performance that has put South Africa on the map again.
The Belgian coach has himself alluded to the fact that he will start looking at refreshing the team ahead of playing qualifiers for next year’s edition in Morocco, as well as to the pursuit to get one of the nine spots the continent gets for the upcoming 2026 World Cup in the USA, Mexico and Canada.
“It is slightly surprising that he wasn’t part of the latest squads, but he has time on his side for that. If you know Reeve, then you know what he can offer any squad,” Mitchell concludes.
Photo by Gerhard Duraan/BackpagePix
