Platinum Stars coach Cavin Johnson was understandably delighted with his side following their impressive turnaround to book their place in the CAF Confederation Cup group stages. Dikwena entered Sunday’s play-off second-leg clash against AS Tanda trailing 2-0, but managed to turn things around as the matched finished 2-2, with Johnson’s men eventually going on to win the penalty shootout 5-4 after sudden death. And with the Rustenburg giants now through to the first round proper of Africa’s second tier club cup competition, Johnson is thrilled with the experience playing on the continent will give his squad. “I am very happy. It’s good for the players. I have always said that if you go to group stages, it gives you more experience,” he said via the club’s official Twitter account.

"It gives the youngsters a chance to travel and see what Africa is like and to appreciate what South Africa is like. “Observing the team we were up against in Ivory Coast [AS Tanda], we knew we stand a chance in South Africa if we held the ball better. “If we were able to get into the box, we knew we would score. We had to hold the ball in the box because they look jittery in the box.”

Looking ahead to Wednesday’s clash away to Polokwane City in the Absa Premiership, where Stars are only four points above the relegation zone, the coach said: “We know where we are in the league. We know that we need the points. “We know that we have to go to Polokwane and put in a very good shift. We are going to push harder and get maximum points.”