A clinical, workmanlike Black Leopards mauled and ultimately devoured Platinum Stars while winning a one-sided Premier Soccer League (PSL) game 2-0 at a largely deserted Giyani Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
Goals from the industrious Myron Shongwe in the 30th minute and David Makgale in the 61st minute added to Stars’ discomfort in the sun-scorched Limpopo province, with the Telkom Cup holders and PSL runners-up unrecognisable as the terrier-like, never-say-die combination that had been the surprise packet of last season under their erstwhile name of Silver Stars.
Indeed, Leopards might have scored on three occasions before Shongwe converted the home team’s superiority into goals with a stunning 18m header following a floating Jabulani Mmaluleke free kick.
”That’s what happens when you finally secure meaningful finance,” said coach Owen de Gama afterwards in reference to the deal that has given the affluent Bafokeng tribe in platinum-rich Rustenburg a majority share-holding in the club. ”You give the players a healthy increase in their salaries and they lose their hunger on the pitch.”
Hungry or not, Stars were shown up by a Leopards team who have already accounted for SuperSport United this season and now move into the top echelon in the log table.
”But we aim to keep our feet on the ground and work hard,” said Leopards coach Boebie Solomons. ”The season is in its infancy and we could fall flat on our faces if we start celebrating prematurely.”
For all this, Solomons praised his players for their commitment and discipline and credited his team’s latest success to diligently maintaining possession and controlling the tempo of the play.
”It’s always been my belief that the team that has the ball dictates the course of the game,” added the Leopards coach, ”and that is what happened as we never allowed Stars to get into their stride.”
With an uncharacteristic lethargy creeping into their play, Stars’ 3-5-2 system left their defence glaringly exposed — with the absence of injured stalwart centre-back and captain Willem Jackson contributing materially to their woes. — Sapa