WATCH: Lions of the north on the brink of PSL birth
JOBURG – Lions of the North roar in the National First Division.
Highlands Park Football Club has a good chance of gaining promotion to the Premier Soccer League.
After finishing in 11th position in their maiden season in the National First Division (NFD) last season, the Johannesburg north side brought in some quality players and coaching staff in the 2015/16 season as they looked to step up their bid for promotion.
The club recruited former Platinum Stars coach Allan Freese as their chief mentor for their new campaign, and it seems to have worked for the Lions of the North, as they are affectionately known. They have been in fine form all season and only missed winning the NFD title by one point.
Brad Kaftel, co-chairperson of Highlands Park said the hard work which the technical staff had put in behind the scenes was paying dividends.
He praised fellow co-chairperson and technical director Larry Brookstone for the tireless work he put in. “He is a key figure in the club and puts enormous time and effort into the team. His efforts are a big competitive edge for us.”
WATCH: Highlands Park co-chairperson Brad Kaftel in an exclusive interview with the North Eastern Tribune at the beginning of the season.
Finishing in second place behind champions Baroka FC meant that Highlands Park qualified for the Absa Premiership promotional playoffs. Freese’s men kicked off the playoffs on a high as they humbled fellow NFD side Mbombela United 2–0.
Highlands Park’s next game will be against University of Pretoria Football Club (Amatuks), who finished second-last in the Absa Premiership, at the Makhulong Stadium in Thembisa on 11 June, with kick-off set for 3pm.
Four days later, they once again lock horns with the Mpumalanga-based Mbombela United at home with the match scheduled for 7.30pm.
