PLATINUM Stars are now a fully fledged North West club.

PLATINUM Stars are now a fully fledged North West club.

Stars players held their first training session in Rustenburg since Royal Bafokeng Holdings acquired total control of the team last year, ending a lengthy period during which the team's operations were rooted in Johannesburg. While they travelled to the North West town only for matches.

Speaking on behalf of the Bafokeng people, Stars chairperson George Khunou said it was a relief to finally realise a long-held dream of having the team belong to them in every sense of the word.

"We have been working towards this for a very long time. It is gratifying for the team to have at last made their way home.

"I'm sure they will be welcomed by the people.

"While our state-of-the-art sport complex is undergoing finishing touches, we have secured training facilities elsewhere in the province, as we await formal inspection of the pitches and ablution facilities," Khunou said.

Urging the process along is awareness that the England team is said to have opted for this complex as their World Cup base, a claim Khunou would not confirm.

Stars plan to source the bulk of their players from the area in future.