Highlands Park deputy mentor Allan Freese knows his place

As he also has a proven track record as a head coach, Highlands Park deputy mentor Allan Freese has reiterated there'll never be a scenario of two bulls in one kraal between him and Owen Da Gama.

Freese boasts vast head coaching expertise, having previously tasted some success as a head coach by clinching the MTN8 and Telkom Knockout with the now defunct Platinum Stars in 2013.

"Larry Brookstone [the club's chairman] spoke to me and said, 'Allan I want you to go and assist Owen'. So, that's my job and I am happy to do that. At the moment I do not have ambitions to be a head coach," Freese told Sowetan.

"I respect Owen, he's the head coach. We have a very good working relationship and it benefits the team. There'll never be chaos because we share the same goal of helping the team reach greater heights."

It's Freese's second spell at Highlands. In the 2016/17 campaign, the former Dikwena mentor started the season as the head coach of the Tembisa-based side in their maiden premiership season, but he was fired only five games into the season.

Freese, 63, pins his hopes on the new signings that they can help the team do better than the previous campaign where they finished seventh. They are now eighth on the table on eight points, with two draws, two wins and a defeat.

"With all the new signings that we made, we are hoping that we can improve and finish in a better position," said the assistant mentor.

The Lions of the North face Polokwane City at Makhulong Stadium on Sunday (3pm).

Assistant coaches with head coaching experience in the Premiership

1. Fadlu Davids  (Orlando Pirates) - coached Maritzburg United

2. Mandla Ncikazi (Golden Arrows) - previously guided Maritzburg

3. Shaun Bartlett (Kaizer Chiefs) - coached Arrows and Pretoria University

4. Manqoba Mngqithi (Mamelodi Sundowns) - mentored AmaZulu, Chippa and Arrows