Dikwena plan to foil ill-discipline this year

PLATINUM Stars football manager Senzo Mazingisa is adamant the team will not be affected by disciplinary issues in the new season.

Dikwena had a fairly good run to finish third on the log in the past season, but their campaign was marred by disciplinary issues towards the end that saw midfielder Masibusane Zongo dismissed.

Goalkeeper Mbongeni Mzimela and midfielder Khulekani Madondo received fines and finals warnings for behaving in a manner which the club found inappropriate.

Mazingisa admitted yesterday that ill-discipline contributed to the club’s poor run towards the end of the season that saw them win just one of their last seven league games.

“We did have disciplinary issues towards the end of the season whereby some of the key players went and did things that are against what we stand for as a club,” he said from Stars’ training base in Phokeng, Rustenburg, where the team unveiled 13 new signings.

“I think that contributed to how we finished some matches, and sometimes you might miss a player in the field, but that affects the entire mood in the camp. We have learnt a lot from that and that’s why we have programmes in place to make sure we don’t encounter similar problems we had in the last season.”

Dikwena have promoted 10 players and brought in a further three from outside, while they have parted ways with 12 players. The new players are Henrico Botes, Steven Hoffman, Katlego Khunou, Tshirelatso Lesabane, Sipho Senne, Sphamandla Mlilo, Sphiwe Mnguni, Nhlakanipho Duma, Gift Links, Kamohelo Mathe, Thuto Mphahlele, Thobani Kunene and Benson Shilongo.