Platinum Stars coach Cavin Johnson believes that defender Isaac Nhlapo has worked hard towards earning a call-up to the South African national team.

The 25-year-old was recently called up to the Bafana Bafana squad as a replacement for the injured Ajax Cape Town defender Rivaldo Coetzee.

Johnson insists that has worked hard over the last two seasons and he believes that the defender deserves the call-up to Shakes Mashaba’s squad.

‘He works hard,’ Johnson told the Platinum Stars website about Nhlapo.

‘As a team, we are happy with Nhlapo’s call-up. He has been putting in the hard work. I think this season and last season that he has really cemented his place within our team.

‘We are happy for him and we just hope he goes out there and represents. We are happy with the fact that Bafana people are looking at him. It’s credit to his ability to perform and stay in the team all the time.’

The 57-year-old admits that since playing a full season for Dikwena last season, Nhlapo has cemented his place in the first team and helped them to a third-place finish last season in the Absa Premiership.

‘I think last season was his first full season in the PSL where he was able to play many games. That sort of cemented his place in the team,’ he added.

‘From there onwards he hasn’t looked back. I know last season he missed a few games due to injury but this season he has come back and done the job well. We are happy with that.’

When the Absa Premiership returns, Platinum Stars will take on Bloemfontein Celtic on October 15.

The match at Royal Bafokeng Stadium kicks off at 15:30.