Botes breaks club record

Namibia's Platinum Stars marksman Henrico Botes told KickOff.com yesterday he still has a lot to offer the North West side, after overtaking Dingane Masanabo as the club's all-time leading goalscorer. The Namibia international took his tally to 28 goals for Dikwena in just over 100 games in the Premier Soccer League (PSL) when Stars drew 2-2 against Mpumalanga Black Aces on Tuesday night, and in the process he surpassed the 27 scored by Masanabo. "It has been long coming," Botes says. "Obviously, I haven't been as prolific as I would have wanted to be but I'm chuffed. I hope to improve on that record and I still have a lot to offer the team." At 33, the former Moroka Swallows striker says he is far off from retiring. "I look to players like 'Rhee' [Sibusiso Zuma, who is 38] and he is a tremendous example. I also look at someone like 'Shoes' [Moshoeu], who still looks like he can play, even though he has retired, and I want to go as long as I can," Botes continues. "If you look after yourself, your body and people give you a chance then you can go on… all I can do is keeping on going." However, Botes is adamant that personal glory comes second with the team taking priority. "Personal glory doesn't count for anything if the team is not winning anything. I'm happy, but I will be more than happy if we win the league," he adds. Botes, who was a 64th minute substitute against Aces, has struggled for game time this season but has already notched up four goals for the club across all competitions. Despite the limited time on the field, the striker has a great time with Stars, as he helped the team win the MTN 8 tournament. Success has also followed him on a personal level since he is nominated as Sport Achiever of the Year at the MTC/NSC Sports Awards. National headache The fact that Botes is regularly among the goals should also bode well for the national team selectors, who have nervously watched as many of the Namibians based in the PSL struggle to get game time. Such has been the level of inactivity that only two Brave Warriors are guaranteed a starting berth at their PSL club. These are AmaZulu's Larry Horaeb, who again played 90 minutes when his team went down 7-1 to Mamelodi Sundowns on Tuesday, and Golden Arrows' Rudolf Bester, who is on loan at the Durban team from Orlando Pirates. Horaeb's teammates' Willem Mwedihanga and Sadney Urikhob, who recently recovered from a spell on the sidelines due to illness, have had to watch most the team's matches from the bench. But with AmaZulu's defence having leaked seven goals on Tuesday, Mwedihanga, who prefers playing in the centre of defence, is likely to get a look-in when the team plays over the weekend. Another AmaZulu player, Pineas Jacob, is still waiting for his paperwork to be finalised, while Petrus Shitembi has had to find new employers after his contract was ended by University of Pretoria, aka AmaTuks. Regular Brave Warriors captain, Ronald 'Stigga' Ketjijere is still working his way back from injury at AmaTuks, while Heini Isaacks is reported to have picked up a knee injury that will leave him on the sidelines at Maritzburg United. Isaacks' teammate at the club, Virgil Vries, meanwhile, is continuing to deputise for the Maritzburg's first choice keeper, Shu-aib Walters, with chances looking slim that the Namibian will make his debut for the team anytime soon.-Additional reporting Hector Mawonga JOHANNESBURG-KICKOFF.COM