When Kaizer Chiefs kicked off their 2005 – 2006 league game just a little over a year ago, Gert Schalkwyk watched from the sidelines as Chiefs got their campaign off the ground without him featuring in any of the early games.

His hard work and determination were rewarded mid way through the first half of the season when Ernst Middendorp afforded him with the opportunity to start his first game for The Amakhosi away to Moroka Swallows in October last year.

In his first start for Chiefs Gert did not disappoint and was in impeccable form as he opened the scoring for Chiefs with a memorable diving headed goal, although the match eventually ended in a draw Gert had made his mark.

Gert took time out of his morning off on Thursday to talk to kaizerchiefs.com about the season ahead as well as his new found optimism and his objectives for the forthcoming nine months.

KC.COM: The new season begins in a couple of day’s time; the overall picture for you ahead of this campaign is far different from the way things were looking for you around twelve months ago?

GS: Definitely my life has come full circle in the past year or so, where as I might have been frustrated when the season began last year this time around I have different problems and issues to deal with, I would rather be having the problems I have now any day of the week. Instead of having to worry about not playing and what to do next, the start of last season 2005 – 2006 was a very uncertain time for me.

KC.COM: What are the kinds of issues you are having to deal with this time around?

GS: Well the most important change to my game in recent times has been the fact that the coach has given me a positional switch and has used me as a kind of second striker, playing alongside Shaun Bartlett or Kaizer Junior or who ever else he selects to start up front. It really has not been a problem for me to fit into this role but it is vastly different to where I grew up playing on the soccer field, the way you read the game the way you position yourself everything is altered. Initially getting used to playing up front was something that took some getting used to but I am beginning to enjoy it.

KC.COM: You have had some time to adapt to playing as a striker as the coach did play you in this type of position through the Vodacom Challenge and other Pre-Season games, has this been enough preparation for you to adapt to playing up front?

GS: Yes it has playing in these handful or so games has most definitely helped me, it has also assisted in building up my in confidence in terms of me knowing that that I am capable of playing in different positions and becoming the kind of guy who could fill a number of roles when called upon. With regards to the pre-season games what it did achieve was getting me to have a feel of playing as a striker and I can play as an attacker and from the way I have felt through out, I do believe that my new role is one I believe that I can fulfil. If I felt that playing upfront was a position I was not interested in playing in I would have told that to the coach a long time ago.

KC.COM: With you seemingly fitting into your new role, have you been able to give much thought to the opening league game against SuperSport United this weekend?

GS: The funny thing is that the only thing I have been able to think about all week is SuperSport United and nothing else, well let us say not just SuperSport but the league in general that is the only thing on my mind at this moment. I really can not wait for the league to start I am really enthusiastic about this season and I know that the rest of the team are as well, we have team that is willing to die for each other and that all for one attitude is really keeping us together as tight well knit unit. We are aware that SuperSport have been tough customers down the years but we are ready for them and I know that we have a strong team and we will not disappoint on Sunday.

KC.COM: Do you think that SuperSport with out Abram Raselemane, Lungisani Ndlela and Calvin Marlin are still a dangerous team or will they find life tough going in the league this season?

GS: With their victory over Orlando Pirates in the SAA Supa8 ¼ Finals they will have risen in confidence and I am sure that they now know that even with out the guys you mentioned above they can still win matches, they gave Pirates a run for a 120 minutes. The thing is that teams lose players all the time and although it might take some time to over come the loss, you still get by and to me SuperSport look to be coping just fine without these guys. Obviously without Ndlela their game plan and tactics might change especially in the way they launch foray’s upfront into the opposition penalty area. Don’t get me wrong they are still a tough team and will do everything to try and keep their proud record against us intact.

KC.COM: To end off what are your expectations from the season on a team level, on and individual level as well as how do you think the supporters can play a role in the teams success in the coming season?

GS: On a team level I think we all know that we have made the league our number one priority and we will give all that we have towards getting the league title back to Chiefs, in addition we will be hoping to win at least one more trophy although I do feel that we can end the season with three trophies. Personally I will just continue working as hard as I can and hopefully play in as many games as possible and help to both score and create goals, also to improve game by game so that I can maintain my place in the national team. Good performances at club level will ensure that I will be able to stay for some time with Bafana Bafana, my mid term goal with the national teams is to be there until the 2008 Africa Cup of Nations in Ghana.