Share

Highlands Park stays home for Kaizer Chiefs crowd-puller

Cape Town - "Winning," said Highlands Park coach Owen Da Gama, "is the name of the game" following "The Lions of the North" decision to play their season-opening Absa Premiership crowd-puller against Kaizer Chiefs at the compact Makhulong Stadium instead of switching to a venue where they could have doubled the crowd - and more.

Highlands' home ground in Tembisa has a maximum capacity of barely 12 000 and at a more spacious venue the timely fixture could well have drawn anything up to 30 000 spectators.

"But our objective," added De Gama, "is to play where we have the best chance of winning - and also reward our supporters for the ongoing support they gave us during the past season."

The Highlands coach said many soccer followers did not comprehend - or were not even aware - of the glamour status and success the club had enjoyed prior to the controversial sale of their premier division status to Jomo Cosmos in 1982.

"For more than three decades the club went out of existence in the professional ranks," added Da Gama, "but the ambition now is to get back to where we once were.

"After regaining Premier League status last season with promotion from the NFD, we surprised many by qualifying for the Top Eight competition, while edging out Chiefs in the process, and that is what is adding additional spice to the season opener on August 4."

Da Gama believes that after making five calculated player purchases during the off-season, Highlands are now equipped to take another step forward in rekindling the past.

"The emphasis,'' he added, "has been to add a degree of maturity to the defence and so avoid the kind of needless goals that cost us dearly last season."

Meanwhile, what the coach of "The Lions of the North" believes was the main reason for Highland's advancement last season, namely the team spirit, camaraderie and unstinting effort of the players, will again be their strong points in the coming campaign.

We live in a world where facts and fiction get blurred
Who we choose to trust can have a profound impact on our lives. Join thousands of devoted South Africans who look to News24 to bring them news they can trust every day. As we celebrate 25 years, become a News24 subscriber as we strive to keep you informed, inspired and empowered.
Join News24 today
heading
description
username
Show Comments ()
Voting Booth
Should Siya Kolisi keep the captaincy as the Springboks build towards their World Cup title defence in 2027?
Please select an option Oops! Something went wrong, please try again later.
Results
Yes! Siya will only be 36 at the next World Cup. He can make it!
26% - 1272 votes
No! I think the smart thing to do is start again with a younger skipper ...
30% - 1470 votes
I'd keep Siya captain for now, but look to have someone else for 2027.
45% - 2240 votes
Vote
Editorial feedback and complaints

Contact the public editor with feedback for our journalists, complaints, queries or suggestions about articles on News24.

LEARN MORE