For Platinum Stars captain Vuyo Mere success was something he was privileged enough to taste fairly early in his career.

The versatile defender was part of a thriving Mamelodi Sundowns squad during the mid-2000s when he went on to win two Absa Premiership titles and also twice won major cups.

He was just 22 when the was part of the Brazilians’ title-winning squad in 2005, and now, seven years on and vastly more matured and experience, Mere was the man to lift the MTN8 trophy when Dikwena claimed the first piece of silverware on offer this season.

“It’s a great feeling and a sweeter one in many ways,” he told PSL.co.za. “If you look at the brand of Platinum Stars, we’re still a developing brand, still trying to establish ourselves up there in order to compete with the best.

“It’s different because I’m now one of the senior players in the team here and all I wanted for youngsters here was to also taste the glory.

“So it was rewarding for me personally to help the youngsters to achieve that.”

“For me personally it was a great feeling to win the MTN8 with this club. Particularly as captain and as the leader of the pack, it was fantastic, although it was a team effort right from the coaching team to the players and the supporters. Everyone deserved credit.”

Mere describes coach Allan Freese as the real ‘father figure’ behind their drive to success and insists that their story is only the beginning of where they want to be in the near future.

Prior to his first trophy at the club earlier in the season, Dikwena had only won one major trophy in their history – the Telkom Knockout back in 2006.

“We have our objectives here at Platinum Stars,” the skipper says. “We did very well last season without any reward or anything to show for it.

“So we had to win something for ourselves to improve on what we did last season.

“We finished second and the only way to improve on that was winning the league and be number one. That’s still our ultimate objective.

“It’s not going to be an easy task, but it is a target. If we look at Orlando Pirates winning the treble, I mean if they did it, why can’t we?

“In fact why can’t we break their record and win all the trophies on offer. So that’s the positive mindset we are trying to set for ourselves. We want to compare and compete with the best. We want to be a team to be reckoned with.”

The 29-year-old Bloemfontein-born player also credits other senior players in the group for putting them on the map.

“I may be captain but lot of credit has to go to the other senior boys,” he added. “The likes of Benson Mhlongo, Henrico Botes, Robert Ng’ambi…and others. They’re making my job so much easier.

“The youngsters look up to these players and these players are so keen to part advice as well. It really is a combined effort here at the club.”

The Rustenburg club are currently third on the league table, four points off leaders Sundowns, and will face Kaizer Chiefs in the Telkom Knockout semi-finals next weekend.
Source: http://www.psl.co.za