Highlands in triumphant return to PSL
● Highlands Park will be dining at the top table of South African football next season.
The Lions of the North roared back to the promised land of the Premier Soccer League (PSL) in some style after a one-season absence following this impressive 5-1 victory over Tuks in Tembisa yesterday with four matches to spare.
With these three points coach Owen Da Gama and his men have ensured an unassailable lead at the summit of the National First Division (NFD) table.
The likes of Black Leopards, Jomo Cosmos, Real Kings, Witbank Spurs and Tshakhuma Tsha Madzivhandila will battle for the play-offs.
Highlands came into this game needing only a draw to ensure their return to the PSL but left nothing to chance as they won through first-half goals by Sphiwe Mahlangu and Vukile Mngqibisa (two) and Lindokuhle Mbatha and Peter Shalulile after the break to secure their seventh league win in succession.
Tuks’ goal was scored by defender Chemon Petersen early in the second half but was enough as this venue erupted into wild celebrations.
It is also worth noting that as a result of this victory, Highlands Park have gone through 21 league matches without defeat since Da Gama took over the reins in September in an impressive run of 16 wins and five draws.
The only loss Da Gama has suffered since he took over was in the last 32 of the Nedbank Cup in which they lost 1-0 to Stellenbosch in what was a blessing in disguise as they continued to focus on promotion.
The job of returning the team to the PSL has been achieved but Da Gama and senior members of the team like Tapuwa Kapini, Mothobi Mvala, Moeketsi Sekola and Peter Shalulile face the difficult task of motivating the younger players to finish off the job.
In their next two league matches, Highlands Park hit the road to bottom of the log Mthatha Bucks and Cape Town All Stars before returning home to host Leopards, and they round off their campaign with a trip to Stellenbosch FC.
Besides motivating the players to end the season on a high note, Da Gama will start planning for next season as they will be looking to avoid an immediate drop back to the NFD.
Tuks live to fight another day in their mission to secure a top-eight spot.