Former Polokwane City center-forward Mohau Mokate was relieved after Highbury FC secured promotion to the Motsepe Foundation Championship.
The Eastern Cape-based club has made it to the second tier following their triumph in the ABC Motsepe League national play-offs in Northern Cape.
"To be honest it's a tough league the ABC Motsepe League and it's not nice to be there," Mokate tells KickOff.
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"The fields are not okay, there is also the issue of traveling, we used to travel by bus for 10 hours. It's very difficult to give your best on the pitch after such long trips.
"ABC Motsepe League is very difficult, is not a nice league to play in."
The 33-year-old says it took him about 12 years to realise his dream of seeing Highbury make it into professional football.
"In 2012 I was here playing in Highbury in the ABC Motsepe League, I then left to play for other teams. I came back to help promote the team.
"I never doubted my talent though because last season I promoted Polokwane City. It's just that I struggled to get a team after leaving Polokwane City.
"Highbury told me their goal is to get promoted, I agreed to join them, and now look what happened.
"I left Polokwane City because my contract was finished, they had an option to renew, but they opted not to.
"It didn't upset me though because it's part of the game, I've been in this game for years now so I know about such a thing.
"I have a good relationship with the Highbury FC chairman, I don't want to make a lot of promises, my goal is to help the younger players. They are good players who have never been exposed to professional football.
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"Next season I will still be playing a very big role as the leader and captain of the team. I plan to score more goals next season like I did this season. That's my job. I scored 17 goals this season in 13 games.
"You will struggle as a team in the Motsepe Foundation Championship if you don't play with players who have been there before. You need a balanced squad with players who have been in the PSL and NFD.
"Our triumph in the PSL is due to the experienced players we have in our team, it played a big role. Our only loss this season came in January."