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Cape Town - Following their MTN8 Cup final victory on Saturday, Platinum Stars veteran defender Benson Mhlongo says they fully deserve their R8m prize.
Stars defeated Orlando Pirates 3-1 on penalties after a 1-all stalemate at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban.
Malawian international Robert Ng'ambi opened the scoring after the interval before Bucs substitute, Thabo Matlaba, levelled matters with six minutes of regulation time remaining.
Speaking exclusively to Sport24, “Mayanga” said Dikwena had prepared for a possible penalty shootout.
“We worked very hard as a team and we really deserved to win as we always give our best to succeed,” said Mhlongo.
“We practiced taking penalties at training and prior to that we told ourselves that whatever happens we will accept.
“Am just happy we managed to win at the end of the day.”
The 32-year-old defender was also at the centre of controversy during the post match interview, claiming that his former team, Pirates, almost ended his career when he suffered from a horrific and career threatening knee injury in 2009.
“I was happy to beat them,” he said.
“Doctors told me I can’t play anymore, then Pirates handed me the insurance papers to sign that it’s over for me, claiming that I will never play football again but I was willing to take a risk and today I won another silverware with another club.
“I believed in God and myself, I took a risk and it paid off.”
The former Wits skipper also revealed the reason behind his departure from Pirates to Dikwena after winning the second treble back in 2012.
“After my contract expired last year, they wanted me to stay involved in the team.”
“The coach, Augusto Palacios, did not promise me much and that to me signalled the fact that I was not in his plans, so I had to leave and seek greener pastures elsewhere.”
Mhlongo also stated that although Dikwena won the MTN8 Cup for the first time, his lads are now switching their focus to the Telkom Knockout last 16 match against Maritzburg United this coming weekend.
“It will be a hell of a project but we have to forget about the MTN8 and focus on the next competition, hopefully we will do well.”
Stars will face United at the Moruleng Stadium on Sunday.
Kick-off is at 15:00.
Stars defeated Orlando Pirates 3-1 on penalties after a 1-all stalemate at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban.
Malawian international Robert Ng'ambi opened the scoring after the interval before Bucs substitute, Thabo Matlaba, levelled matters with six minutes of regulation time remaining.
Speaking exclusively to Sport24, “Mayanga” said Dikwena had prepared for a possible penalty shootout.
“We worked very hard as a team and we really deserved to win as we always give our best to succeed,” said Mhlongo.
“We practiced taking penalties at training and prior to that we told ourselves that whatever happens we will accept.
“Am just happy we managed to win at the end of the day.”
The 32-year-old defender was also at the centre of controversy during the post match interview, claiming that his former team, Pirates, almost ended his career when he suffered from a horrific and career threatening knee injury in 2009.
“I was happy to beat them,” he said.
“Doctors told me I can’t play anymore, then Pirates handed me the insurance papers to sign that it’s over for me, claiming that I will never play football again but I was willing to take a risk and today I won another silverware with another club.
“I believed in God and myself, I took a risk and it paid off.”
The former Wits skipper also revealed the reason behind his departure from Pirates to Dikwena after winning the second treble back in 2012.
“After my contract expired last year, they wanted me to stay involved in the team.”
“The coach, Augusto Palacios, did not promise me much and that to me signalled the fact that I was not in his plans, so I had to leave and seek greener pastures elsewhere.”
Mhlongo also stated that although Dikwena won the MTN8 Cup for the first time, his lads are now switching their focus to the Telkom Knockout last 16 match against Maritzburg United this coming weekend.
“It will be a hell of a project but we have to forget about the MTN8 and focus on the next competition, hopefully we will do well.”
Stars will face United at the Moruleng Stadium on Sunday.
Kick-off is at 15:00.
