Houston Hills is a key player for the All Stars to pull off their shot at a play-off spot.
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Cape Town – All Stars have had a fantastic debut season in the National First Division. Not only are they the only Mother City club in with a shot at a promotion play-off spot, but they have also provided a platform for a few players to realise their full potential.
Today is the final day of the NFD campaign – and, as All Stars look to defeat Jomo Cosmos at Athlone Stadium this afternoon (kick-off 3pm) and, at the same time, hope other results go their way, attacking midfielder Houston Hills can reflect on a fruitful season at the Gugulethu-based club.
Like Amigo Memela and Zaid Patel – two other players who have come to prominence at All Stars after struggling at their previous clubs – Hills has blossomed at the Cape club under the tutelage of coach Boebie Solomons.
It has been a long and difficult journey for Hills to find a club where he is able to smile. He has been disappointed so many times. Just when it would seem as if everything would come together and he would go on to make a success of his chosen career as a professional footballer, his world would come crashing down.
Now 27 years of age, the player with the exotic name (Houston Hills is the name of a suburb in North Carolina, USA) is from Westbury, the sprawling Joburg township which was also home to current Everton star Steven Pienaar and Ajax Cape Town winger Keagan Dolly. As a junior, Hills started at a community side in Westbury called, ironically, Everton, before he joined the FC AK youth academy in Roodepoort at the age of 16.
Soon after, he was promoted to the FC AK first team who, at the time, were campaigning in the First Division. By the age of 19, Hills had signed for Thanda Royal Zulu in the Premier Soccer League, making his top-flight debut against Kaizer Chiefs. He spent two seasons at Thanda, but eventually a lack of game time prompted him to leave.
He came down to the Cape in search of regular football and signed for First Division club Hanover Park in 2008.
“It was a good move,” said Hills. “I played well, scored a couple of goals and the next season I was signed by Wits. Roger de Sa (current Ajax Cape Town coach) was in charge at the time. After a short while, De Sa sent me on loan to Vasco da Gama, where I was able to do well and contribute to the team from Parow being promoted to the PSL.
“Roger then recalled me to the Wits squad after the loan period, and I was in their squad that won the Nedbank Cup final in 2010.”
But that, too, would come to an end. The Wits stint was over and Hills then moved to Mpumalanga Black Aces in 2013, where, again, he was able to make a contribution to a club attaining promotion to the PSL. After playing such a crucial role in their success, Hills renewed his contract with Aces, hoping that he had finally found a club that would appreciate his talent.
Alas, it was not to be. “Things just went bad at Aces,” said Hills. “Having achieved promotion, they changed their squad completely, brought in a lot of new players, and I was completely out of favour. It killed me… so I got my release and came down to Cape Town again, this time to join Milano (United) in the NFD.
“This, though, wasn’t a great move. I just never enjoyed myself. After Milano lost out in the promotion play-offs, I went back home to Westbury, took time off from football, sorted out my life and got my head right. It was during this time that I found religion. I was saved, and I was able to put everything into perspective and just concentrate on what I needed to do to get my career back on track.”
Hills called Solomons, soon after he was appointed head coach of All Stars, and the former Cape Town Spurs midfielder told the player to head down to the Mother City. It was to be the best decision of Hills’ career. Everything has gone right – the goals are coming, he has been in brilliant form, and, at last, he can enjoy his game to the fullest.
“The coach (Solomons) has played a big part in my performance,” said Hills. “He has given me the confidence to express myself and the belief in my ability. I’m really grateful for what All Stars and the coach have done for me this season.”
But a play-off spot is not cut-and-dried for Solomons’ troops, even if they manage to defeat second-placed Cosmos today. They will still have to hope that Black Leopards and Thanda don’t sneak in ahead of them.
As it stands, champions Golden Arrows are already promoted to the PSL, but Cosmos (50 points), Leopards (48), Thanda (47) and All Stars (47) are in a desperate race to secure second and third positions on the NFD standings and, thereby, clinch places in the play-offs.
The two NFD teams will then join the club ending second-last on the PSL in a three-way play-off, with the eventual winner assured of a place in next season’s PSL.
“The only thing we can do is focus on what we have to do,” said Hills. “We have to beat Cosmos today and then just hope other results go our way. That’s it… if we deserve to be in the play-offs, we will be there, that’s what I believe.
“I’ve been struggling with injury of late, but playing through the pain is not a problem. This is a crucial period of the season. We need the win, we are in with a chance at a play-off spot. We want to give it our best.”
Today’s NFD fixtures
Black Leopards v African Warriors; Thanda Royal Zulu v Garankuwa United; Vasco da Gama v Santos (Parow Park, 3pm); Maluti FET College v Baroka FC; Milano United v FC Cape Town (Philippi Stadium, 3pm); Royal Eagles v Witbank Spurs; Cape Town All Stars v Jomo Cosmos (Athlone Stadium, 3pm); Highlands Park v Golden Arrows
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