SIMBA RUSHWAYA
JOHANNESBURG- ABSA Premiership newboys, Highlands Park, have sent a warning shot to fellow elite league campaigners ahead of the 2016/2017 campaign.

The team’s director, Sinky Mnisi, warns the rivals to underestimate the Lions of the North at their own peril.

It is the trend among the local football fraternity, ahead of a new season, to tip clubs promoted to the league to struggle and make an instead return to the first division.

Such projections came true last season as Jomo Cosmos was relegated (alongside University of Pretoria).

Mnisi however warns fellow campaigners against taking Highlands lightly.

“Let me make it clear to other teams and our detractors. We are not in the Premier Soccer League to make numbers,” he says.

“People can say we will quickly go back to the lower division but that is their opinion and they are entitled to it because this is a democratic country,” says the administrator.

Highlands were recently promoted into the top flight league after winning the three-team PSL Promotion Play-offs against University of Pretoria and Mbombela United.

Mnisi confirms coach, Allan Freese, will be in charge for their first season in the Absa Premiership that starts in August

“We’ve a contract with the coach, it is in writing with his technical staff that they are going to stay. We are not going to change anything. The guy helped us, last season we were on the verge of being relegated and he came in and changed the team and we won the playoffs in the first three games without even conceding a goal.”

Promoted teams have previously stunned local football by waiting for a coach to help teams gain promotion, only to replace them when the mission is accomplished.

“We have taken a sabbatical from all football matters because we had a long season. I have very little to say except that we are waiting for the coach to come back and provide us with his wish list,” Mnisi says.

While other teams have been beefing up their squads for the new campaign, Highlands have been inactive.

“The issue about players is strictly the coach’s domain and we are going to do what he tells us,” Mnisi says.

He however says “the cheque book must be opened.”

“We need to sign new players to beef up the squad otherwise we will find ourselves in trouble.”

Mnisi also confirms that the club will use the Makhulong Stadium in Tembisa for their home matches next season.

The Sinaba Stadium in Daveyton will be the side’s alternative venue.

– Guardian