Platinum Stars

""'Football club infobox
clubname = Platinum Stars


fullname = Platinum Stars Football Club
nickname = "The Lions of the North, The Tycoons "
founded = 1998, "purchased Khakhu Fast XI’s
Second Division franchise"
ground = Mmabatho Stadium, Mafikeng
capacity = 59,000
chairman = George Khonou
manager = flagicon|Argentina Miguel Gamondi
league = ABSA Premiership
season = 2007-08
position = ABSA Premiership, 10th
pattern_la1=|pattern_b1=|pattern_ra1=| leftarm1=FF0000|body1=FF0000|rightarm1=FF0000|shorts1=FF0000|socks1=FF0000|pattern_la2=_shouldersonblack|pattern_b2=_shouldersonblack|pattern_ra2=_shouldersonblack
leftarm2=000000|body2=000000|rightarm2=000000|shorts2=000000|socks2=000000

Platinum Stars are a South African football (soccer) club that participates in the country's Premier Soccer League.

History

The club is the historical descendent of "Highlands Park", one of the most successful and popular teams in the old, whites-only apartheid era South African league. Highlands Park, which had a red and white outfit similar to Arsenal's, played at Balfour Park in the northern Johannesburg neighbourhood Highlands North. Its fan base was located in the surrounding affluent (and highly Jewish) northern Johannesburg neighbourhoods such as Houghton, Saxonwold, Sydenham, Glenhazel, Highlands North, Rosebank, Killarney, Linksfield and Cyrildene.

Following the disbanding of the old racist league, the club went into bankruptcy. Long time fan and businessman Larry Brookstone purchased it out of receivership, and reestablished it as an amateur club. Within a few years it had won all the amateur titles, and was again eligible to play in the professional league.

The club merged with "Silver Stars", and became known as "HP Silver Stars". This was subsequently shortened to "Silver Stars".

In 2006, the club, then still known as "Silver Stars", and the Royal Bafokeng Nation agreed on a sponsorship deal with the team moving its home games from Polokwane to the Royal Bafokeng Sports Palace near Rustenburg, North West Province. The stadium will be used for the
2010 FIFA World Cup. Being one of South Africa's most ambitious and entertaining outfits, the club's goal is to promote the Platinum Stars brand and to grow a large fan base in the North West region as the only Premier Soccer League club competing there.

They achieved their first piece of silverware in the club's history in late 2006 when they managed to beat Ajax Cape Town 3-1 in the final of the inaugural Telkom Knockout.

In May 2007, the investment vehicle of the Royal Bafokeng Nation, Royal Bafokeng Holdings, bought a 51% stake in the "Silver Stars", which were later renamed "Platinum Stars", to reflect the historic association of both the North West province and the RBN with platinum mining in South Africa.

Honours

*2006 Telkom Knockout Winners
*2002/03 First Division Inland Stream Champions

Club records

*Most starts: Stanley Kgatla 116
*Most goals: Dingane Masanabo 24
*Most capped player: Manqoba Kunene (Swaziland)
*Most starts in a season: Edward Williams 34 (2003/04)
*Most goals in a season: Hareaipha Marumo 13 (2006/07)
*Record victory: 4-1 vs Bush Bucks (14/12/05, PSL); vs Manning Rangers (2/4/05, PSL)
*Record defeat: 0-4 vs Supersport United (18/2/06, PSL);
vs Ajax Cape Town (5/11/03, PSL); vs Supersport United (5/5/03, PSL)

Premier Soccer League record

* 2007/2008 - 10th
* 2006/2007 - 2nd
* 2005/2006 - 5th
* 2004/2005 - 7th
* 2003/2004 - 11th

2007/2008 season

eason record

* ABSA Premiership - 10th
* Nedbank Cup - last 32
* Telkom Knockout - last 16
* SAA Supa 8 - quarterfinals
* Telkom Charity Cup - semifinals

PSL top scorers

1. Tshepo Ramokala 5
2. Phumudzo Manenzhe 4
2. Edward Williams 4
4. Simba Marumo 3
5. Joseph Mkalipa 2
5. George Mofokeng 2

Club awards

Player of the Season: Stanley Kgatla
Players' Player of the Season: Edward Williams
Top Goal-scorer: Simba Marumo
Most Improved Player: Tshepo Ramokala

Club officials/Technical team

*Chairman: flagicon|South Africa George Khonou
*MD & CEO: flagicon|South Africa Larry Brookstone
*General manager: flagicon|South Africa Isaiah Mokgopi
*Coach: flagicon|Argentina Miguel Gamondi
*Assistant coach: flagicon|South Africa Cavin Johnson
*Goalkeeper coach: flagicon|South Africa Edward Da Silva

2007/2008 First team squad

"As of March 10 2008"

2008/2009 Transfers

In:

Out:
flagicon|South Africa Willem Jackson - retired

flagicon|Ghana Abass Inusah

flagicon|Zimbabwe Bhekithemba Ndlovu

flagicon|South Africa December Ngobeni

Flagicon|South Africa Wonder Nhleko - on loan to Flagicon|South Africa Hanover Park F.C.

flagicon|South Africa Solomon Mathe

Official sponsor

Dunns

External links

* [http://www.platinumstars.co.za Platinum Stars Official Website]
* [http://www.psl.co.za Premier Soccer League]
* [http://www.psl.co.za/teams/silver_stars/club_information/ PSL Club Info]
* [http://www.safagoal.net South African Football Association]
* [http://cafonline.com Confederation of African Football]