Highlands seek immediate PSL promotion

WHILE Surprise Moriri has retired and four other players have been released by Highlands Park‚ the club are keeping the bulk of their squad in a bid for an immediate return to the top flight.

The relegated Premier Soccer League side have appointed Thierry Mulonzo‚ who had a previous spell in charge of Platinum Stars‚ to take charge for the coming season, with Les Grobler as his assistant.

Mulonzo said it was full steam ahead for their National First Division campaign.

The club return to preseason training on Monday, following their last place finish in the PSL season.

Their maiden campaign in the top flight proved a slog for the Tembisa outfit, with Allan Freese losing his job early after a string of poor results.

Freese’s replacement‚ Gordon Igesund‚ was unable to turn around their fortunes and Mulonzo and Grobler ended the season in co-charge.

“We are determined to get right back up, so we are keeping a strong squad for next season‚” Mulonzo said.

“We are going all out to win topflight promotion again.”

Franklin Cale had an offer to go to Cyprus on trial, but has decided to stay.

There has been interest in other Highlanders‚ but without any concrete offers yet.

ý Baroka FC returned to preseason training this week and immediately reinforced their midfield stocks with the loan signing of former star Gift Motupa from Orlando Pirates.

Baroka confirmed yesterday that they had agreed to a deal with Pirates to bring Motupa back to the Limpopo outfit.

Motupa banged in 18 goals in 50 games over two seasons at Bakgaga, back when they were in the National First Division‚ before joining Pirates in June 2015.

“Yes‚ I can confirm that Gift Motupa will be playing for Baroka FC after he joined the club on a season-long loan from Orlando Pirates‚” Bakgaga spokesman Jimmy Ngobeni said.

The 22-year-old Bafana Bafana and SA Under-23 international Motupa left Baroka to join the Buccaneers on a bumper five-year deal two years ago, amid much fanfare.