“When I sold Platinum Stars I didn’t realise what a big void it was going to leave in my life.”
These are the words of Highlands Park chairman Larry Brookstone, who this week revealed how desperate he was to see the Lions of the North finally break into top-flight football after years of working behind the scenes to achieve this milestone.
Brookstone is no stranger to the Premier League, having guided Stars there in 2003 during his time as a shareholder and managing director before selling his stake to the Royal Bafokeng Holding, who subsequently changed the name of the club to what it is today while Brookstone moved on to try and rebuild Highlands Park.
On Wednesday, they were promoted to rub shoulders with the big boys in the upcoming 2016/17 campaign, and they have earned it following a convincing display in the PSL play-offs by beating fellow NFD side Mbombela United twice as well as downing the University of Pretoria, who will now begin life in the lower division as Highlands Park ascend, remarkably with a game to spare.
“The hard work is unquestionably only going to start after the celebrations,” said Brookstone.
“I missed the Premiership terribly. You know, when I sold Platinum Stars I didn’t realise what a big void it was going to leave in my life.
“For the first six months I was relieved that I didn’t have the pressure.
“But bit by bit I have missed it a lot and I have always wanted to be back. I missed the whole dynamic of team ownership at that level.
“It’s not going to be easy and I must say that I am concerned about the job ahead.
“When I last got promoted, the Multichoice broadcast deal (reportedly worth more than R2-billion) hadn’t happened. I must be frank, I think it is going to be a very tough year for us, a lot tougher than last year when we got promoted to the NFD.”
A business owner who has had to sacrifice what little dynasty he was building in the past, Brookstone quashed rumours that he would be willing to sell Highlands Park’s newly acquired PSL status.
“We have sold twice before, to Jomo Cosmos and to Platinum Stars,” he explained.
“I think we have a chance now. We were able to transcend the racial dynamics of football. This was traditionally a white club, a powerhouse. Now it has come to Tembisa and the people have embraced us. When you are getting crowds like we are getting at our home games every week, it changes the whole thing totally.
“Brad Kaftel (co-chairman) and myself have been at this club for 21 years. We have always had the intention to revive this team and we were never going to buy anything. We’ve come a long way since we were a Castle League (fourth-tier) club.”
Will Brookstone, Kaftel and Sinky Mnisi, the brains behind Highlands Park, keep coach Allan Freese, who has guided the side to top-flight football in his first full season in charge? It appears that way, judging by his close relationship with Brookstone in particular.
“Allan originally had this team in that Castle League about 15 years ago. I brought him to the club, so we go back a long way.
“I am absolutely happy with his contribution, hence I made up my mind that I was going to bring him back,” said Brookstone. – Saturday Star