Joseph Molangoane © Backpagepix

The road to the PSL was a long one for Joseph Molangoane - now the Platinum Stars winger is looking to build on the promise he showed last season for the North West side.

The 24-year-old displayed great potential out wide for Dikwena, his diminutive stature, speed and ability to take on players reminiscent perhaps of Joseph Makhanya is his early years at Orlando Pirates.

He caught the eye on numerous occasions last season with some standout performances, but is still determined to do even better in the current campaign.

“Last season I did not play as regularly as I would have liked. I want to make sure that this season I keep my game at a consistent level and get as much game-time as possible.

“I think my strength is beating players, but having done that I want to make sure that I deliver a lot of quality crosses for the guys in the box,” Molongoane told PSL.co.za.

He is also confident that Stars have assembled a squad capable of challenging for silverware this season, following signings such as Benson Mhlongo and Joshua Sauls, who add additional quality to a team which last season brought on board Robert Ng’ambi and Patrick Malokase.

“The players we have signed will certainly give us a boost. We have a good strong squad now. I think its going to be a good season and hopefully we can be in with a chance of winning a trophy,” he said.

Molongoane has not had his career handed to him on a plate; it took him eight or nine years to finally make the breakthrough.

His early years saw him playing amateur football for Alexandra Blackpool, before a successful trial at Orlando Pirates saw him joining Bucs’ development side in 2001.

However, unable to make his mark with Pirates, Molongoane found his way to what was then HP Silver Stars, now Platinum Stars, playing for their Under-17 team.

Before finally making his Absa Premiership debut for Platinum Stars in 2009/ 2010, there was one more stop – Harold Legodi’s Africa Sport Youth Development Academy.

Its been a long road to the top, and the young man from Moletjie, a village in the Limpopo, fully appreciates the position he finds himself in.

“I never thought that one day I would become a professional soccer player. My family was always very supportive of me, but it still came as a surprise when straight after Matric I Joined Stars, who were then coached by Steve Komphela.

“There are very few professional players from the surrounding areas where I come from, so for me its an honour and I see myself as a role model for youngsters from back home.”