Young Stars no gamble: Vuyo

IF you are good enough, you are old enough, it is often argued in the world of sports.

This saying rings true to Platinum Stars captain Vuyo Mere, who has backed the club’s young new recruits to hit the ground running in the new season.

Dikwena raised some eyebrows when they re-signed 36-year-old Henrico Botes from Bidvest Wits, but most of their 13 new signings are youngsters from the club’s academy.

Mere, 32, has witnessed football evolve over the years since he made his PSL debut as a 17-year-old at the now-defunct Hellenic in 2001.

The veteran defender has argued that Platinum Stars’ approach in refreshing the squad with under-20s such as Nhlakanipho Duma, Katlego Khunou, Gift Links and Kamohelo Mathe is not a gamble.

“It is going to a be a challenge for the senior players to guide the younger ones, but what I like about them is that they are willing to learn and they are hard workers,” Mere told Sowetan.

“Once we step on to that field, we want to put them in a situation where they know that they are no longer youngsters. Everybody has to do their part to make sure we win games and it is exciting, they are learning.

“I believe they are there because they deserve to be there. It is not by luck or fluke” he added.

While Stars are pretty much a work in progress, the team they play tonight at Royal Bafokeng Stadium, Super Sport United, are looking to win the league title.

Midfielder Dean Furman believes that new signings such as Reneilwe Letsholonyane will have a big role to play this season.

“Yeye has been there and he has a number of titles in the bag. He knows what it takes to win the title and that experience will be invaluable to us.”