Puso Dithejane first learned about the Chicago Fire when they beat Inter Miami last September. Nine months on and two days before his 22nd birthday, he scored his first MLS goal against the same team.
Dithejane, who joined the club in January from South African side TS Galaxy in a surprise move, had a slow start to life in the United States. Things have accelerated quite rapidly, however, since returning from a weeks-long World Cup break, and he is now positioned to be a player to watch in a Fire team with lots of fresh eyeballs on it.
“I’m starting to enjoy life here,” Dithejane told MIR97 Media on Thursday. “Firstly, when I arrived here, it was hard for me. I didn’t gel well with the team because of the weather. I’m not used to the winter, but now I’m used to the weather and I’m enjoying it.”
“I think being with my family meant a lot to me. I learned some stuff from back home, and I’m still humble and focused for the rest of the season. What I came here for is that I want the team to win something this season, and I’m well-prepared for that.”
“Star” of the Mid-Season Camp
Dithejane’s goal off the bench on Wednesday, which tied a game that was quickly slipping away from the Fire, came as no surprise to the team’s staff. The South African youth international may have been a sporadic participant in the first portion of the season, but came back from the pause re-energized and ready to make an immediate impact.
This impact was felt long before league play resumed this week. Gregg Berhalter’s team re-convened about three weeks after the end of the May run of fixtures, organizing several closed-door friendlies against other MLS teams. Dithejane emerged as the top performer of those games, boosting his standing in the Fire’s most stacked position.
“He’s been the star of this new preseason that we’ve had,” Berhalter said following Wednesday’s match. “He scored against Minnesota, he scored against Columbus, and now he scores again against Miami. He’s coming on, pushing for minutes. You can see how dangerous he is, and he has a bright future.”
“I was happy because I was scoring goals and doing everything so that I could be on top before the restart,” Dithejane said. “I had to stay focused and improve more in scoring goals… for me, it all started in training. I had only one goal: to learn the style of the team, play well and train well. So I told myself to work hard, stay focused, and the rest will come.”
Dithejane’s goal reflected his newfound confidence and comfort playing in Chicago. Five minutes after entering against Miami, Dithejane translated that confidence into a well-taken, first-time finish on the half-turn.
“I was happy that I scored against Inter Miami,” Dithejane said. “We know that Inter Miami is a team with great stars, great legends, and my first goal is against them. But the goals won’t stop with them. The other teams must just know that I’m coming with the goals.”
Surviving to Thriving
Dithejane’s first six months in Chicago have seen quite the jump from a player battling for any first team involvement to one competing for starting minutes. After a cameo on a difficult opening day loss in Houston, Dithejane had to wait until April 25th to appear again in the league, getting two MLS Next Pro runouts in that time.
Though Berhalter had to be patient with his young winger, it paid off – Dithejane earned minutes in each of the last four games before the World Cup break, including an impactful showing off the bench that helped turn things around at D.C. United in a 3-1 comeback win. Now, Dithejane is getting recognition both within the league as an exciting winger, and back home, where fans have been closely monitoring his and his countryman Mbekezeli Mbokazi’s adventure in the United States.
“It’s helpful to have someone from your own country,” Dithejane said. “He motivates me. He has my back all the time. Before coming here, me and Mbokazi didn’t speak that much. But we’re used to each other now because we’re playing on the same team and we do all the things together. I can speak his language, and we understand each other.”
Dithejane speaks seven languages, including his native Setswana and Mbokazi’s native isiZulu. Similarly, he is proving versatile on the pitch, appearing in various positions including on both wings and at times as a full back or wingback. His diverse skill set and experience in nearly every position will come in especially handy as the Fire scramble to put together their new playing identity following major shakeups in the center forward department that will impact nearly every position on the pitch.
Most importantly, however, the Fire now know that they have four wingers who can contribute in a variety of ways and push one another. Between Jonathan Bamba, Philip Zinckernagel, Maren Haile-Selassie, and now the burgeoning star Dithejane, Berhalter is more than well-equipped to be competitive via the wide areas, particularly given the variety of profiles and mix of youth and experience in that group.
“For me, I just want the team to win something this season,” Dithejane said. “Whether it’s Leagues Cup or MLS Cup, winning something will make me happy.”
