Sky's the limit for Dikwena star Shilongo - Botes

by Staff Reporter

Friday Jul 22, 2016. 15:50

Former Gaborone United striker Benson Shilongo has received special praise from new club teammate Henrico Botes.

Shilongo, 24, joined South African Premier Soccer League side Platinum Stars earlier this month - following a successful spell in the Botswana Premier League.

The Namibia international was instrumental in bringing Mascom Top 8 glory to the capital club last year and will now set his sights on a successful spell at the Phokeng-based side, south of the boarder.

Botes, who returned to Dikwena following a spell at Bidvest Wits, has tipped Shilongo for great things.

“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 told Platinumstars.com

"He has an eye for goals and I am sure if he gets 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.

“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. 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.

Shilongo was a key member of the Brave Warriors team that won the 2015 Cosafa Castle Cup in the North West province. And Botes revealed that one of the reason's he retired from international football was to create space for Shilongo to shine.

“I have known him for long," Botes continued. "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. 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 concluded.