National team’s loss is Highlands Park’s gain

Sy Lerman

Following their relegation from the Premier League last season, once legendary South African football club Highlands Park found their dream of a speedy return to the PSL’s top division in tatters with three successive defeats in the National First Division.

Since then, however, what appears an inspired decision by the “Lions of the North” administration to change coaches and appoint articulate and knowledgeable former Bafana Bafana assistant coach and Orlando Pirates mentor, Owen da Gama, to the “hot seat”, has culminated in a magical transformation.

After wallowing in the lower regions of the NFD earlier in the season, Highlands under the charge of Da Gama have won three and drawn one of their four matches and zoomed to the top of the league – replacing Stellenbosch FC in the process.

“When I joined Highlands,” says Da Gama, “we were five points behind Stellenbosch. In four games we have made up these five points and overtaken them on goal difference.”

Da Gama’s success at Highlands, meanwhile, has heightened the questionable manner in which Safa treated the caretaker Bafana coach after filling in for the sacked Shakes Mashaba in a commendable manner.

Instead of returning him to his previous position as assistant coach, at least, after the appointment of Stuart Baxter as the new Bafana coach, Da Gama was left in limbo before seemingly leaving Safa in apparent frustration.