Gavin Hunt compares Quwan Plaatjies to Bafana Bafana legend Mark Williams

Veteran coach Gavin Hunt has drawn comparisons between emerging goalscoring sensation Quwan Plaatjies and Bafana Bafana legend Mark Williams, following the youngster’s remarkable record-breaking debut for Stellenbosch.

Plaatjies made Premier Soccer League history on Friday when he became the first player to score a hat-trick on his league debut, finding the net three times against Marumo Gallants.

The 20-year-old may still be a relatively unfamiliar name to many supporters, but his performances in the Diski Challenge had already given Hunt plenty of reason to believe he could make an impact at senior level.

Hunt handed Plaatjies a starting opportunity ahead of experienced forwards Bradley Grobler and Ashley du Preez, and the youngster repaid his manager’s faith in spectacular fashion.

Speaking after the match, Hunt was quick to highlight what makes Plaatjies different from a conventional striker.

“He’s not a striker, this boy, he’s a goal scorer. Now there’s a big difference for me.”

Hunt then made the eye-catching comparison with Mark Williams, one of South Africa’s most celebrated forwards.

“He is like … if I’m going to say this it’ll be all over the media … like Mark Williams. The build-ups, you don’t get him involved, but he can score goals.”

The coach revealed that Plaatjies had impressed him during pre-season, where his natural finishing ability stood out in training.

“He’s a natural goal scorer, and that’s hard to find. And there’s a difference between a striker and a goal scorer.”

Hunt explained that while a traditional striker may be expected to hold up play, press defenders and bring teammates into the game, Plaatjies possesses the instinct to simply find the back of the net.

That instinct was on full display against Marumo Gallants. His first goal came via a composed finish from the edge of the box before he completed his historic hat-trick with two headers from pinpoint deliveries by fellow academy graduate Raoul Daniels.

Hunt admitted that Plaatjies’ performances in training had convinced him the youngster was ready for a breakthrough.

“In training, he scores goals every day, and in the preseason, he was scoring goals. And I thought, ‘Yeah, tonight’s the night at home’.”

The comparison with Williams carries significant weight. Williams scored both goals as Bafana Bafana defeated Tunisia 2-0 in the 1996 Africa Cup of Nations final, helping South Africa lift the continental title on home soil.

A renowned goal-poacher, Williams also enjoyed a career in Europe with Wolverhampton Wanderers, while playing spells in Brazil, Belgium and China.

Plaatjies will now hope his extraordinary debut is the beginning of a long and successful career. Stellenbosch FC are scheduled to return to action away against Lamontville Golden Arrows on August 26.