Platinum Stars veteran striker Henrico Botes says newly signed striker Benson Shilongo is set to shine for Dikwena this season.
The 36-year-old has shed light into the abilities and capabilities of forward Shilongo, whom he believes can set the scene alight in the PSL and help Dikwena to reach greater heights, reports the Platinum Stars website.
‘Shilongo is a typical number nine and he is also a target man but he is quite mobile. He is got good feet, a good technique,’ Botes said.
‘He has an eye for goals and I am sure if he gets a chance and gets used to the league, he will just grow from strength to strength. Maybe he can score couple of goals in his first season and the sky can be the limit.’
Botes insists that with his experience in the Absa Premiership, he will help the striker find his feet during his debut season in the PSL.
‘It’s his first year in the PSL but I believe with me being here I am sure it will help him to settle quicker and find his feet. He is a good player. If he gets a chance he will definitely prove that he is not an ordinary player,’ he added.
‘The first season in the PSL is not easy. The standard is quite higher than all the leagues in Africa. Hopefully, I can assist him and all the young strikers as well.’
The PSL veteran knows Shilongo better having played with the striker for the Namibian national team. Botes revealed that one of the reasons he retired from international was to create space for Shilongo in the first-team.
‘I have known him for long. When I was still playing for the national team, he used to be the second striker behind me. One of the reasons I retired last year was to give him a chance to make that step up otherwise if you don’t give others a chance, they will never get a chance,’ the former Namibian captain said.
‘He is done well in Botswana. He has scored a lot of goals. He has done well in Cosafa Cup recently and he also did well in Cosafa when they won it.’
Botes is confident that Stars can do well with right combinations, insists that Dikwena will surprise teams this season.
‘There’s quality. There’s a couple of youngsters that if given an opportunity, with the right guidance, they would excel. I am confident they would do well.’
‘Our job is to guide them. Together as a team, we can achieve and I have no doubt. It’s about getting the right combinations and getting everything in place. We can surprise a lot of teams,’ Botes concluded.
