Stars continue record of fast starts

Platinum Stars’ 3-1 victory over Moroka Swallows on Sunday was their biggest opening round win since winning promotion to the top-flight ahead of the 2003/04 season.

Dikwena have a proud record in their opening League games of the season, having lost just once first up in the 10 campaigns they have been in the Absa Premiership.

That came in a 1-0 reversal at home to Mamelodi Sundowns in 2005/06. Otherwise they have won seven and drawn two of their other opening fixtures, but none have been bigger than their win over The Birds.

The latest victory, achieved thanks to goals from Robert Ng’ambi, Siphelele Mthembu and Benson Mhlongo, left coach Cavin Johnson pleased with his players.

“If you get a start like this, then you are happy. I think the players played well and credit to them, they worked hard,” Johnson says.

The coach handed first caps to five new players, Mhlongo, Mthembu, Obert Moyo, Tintswalo Tshabalala and Mogakolodi Ngele, and says he was pleased with all of their performances.

“I was very happy with the debutants. What we worked on in training came to the fore and as a technical team, that makes us very happy.

“We played the football I thought we should have played and maybe that will mean we can get more bums on seats. We hope that after this performance that the message goes out to the people and that they come.”

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