sportskeeda
Owen Da Gama, the newly appointed coach of Magesi FC, has opened up about the difficulties he faced during his time at TS Galaxy and Black Leopards, where he previously occupied a professional coaching role at the highest level before stepping down to the third-tier division.
The 63-year-old tactician began the season at Limpopo’s ABC Motsepe League team, Vondwe XI Bullets, a choice that caught many by surprise, especially since his last stint in the top-flight was as an assistant coach for Sekhukhune United in the 2021/22 season.
Now, after being appointed the head coach of Magesi following a considerable break from the professional scene, Da Gama has shared insights about his time with the Carling Knockout Cup champions.
“I will certainly be around for this season, but beyond that, it depends on the contractual agreement between myself and the club. Right now, my main priority is to focus on making improvements,” he stated.
“We’re not even mentioning the word relegation; it’s not a concern. Our main focus is on making progress moving forward.”
The coach, who hails from Mpumalanga, addressed critiques suggesting he has fallen behind the current trends due to his disappointing spells at Galaxy and Leopards, providing a detailed account of the challenges he faced at both clubs.
“Upon joining TS Galaxy, they were at the bottom of the league, and I helped them rise to eighth place. However, in the following season, multiple issues started to arise within the team, which had nothing to do with football,” Da Gama recounted.
“There were conflicts regarding various elements of the game, including the possible appointment of [Sead] Ramovic as my assistant coach. I worked with Shaun Bartlett and others and chose to wait before finalizing any decisions.
“In general, I believe I did well at TS Galaxy despite facing challenges in my second season. Tim Sukazi showed me respect, and I reciprocated that respect. Regarding Black Leopards, I came in with only 11 matches left, and they were at the bottom of the table.
“I could not bring in new players or make significant changes, but I gave it my all. In those seven games, we achieved more wins than they had accomplished in the entire season. It was very tough, but we did everything we could, although it ultimately turned out to be too little, too late,” added the former assistant coach for Bafana Bafana.
Da Gama’s team is set to return to action against a rejuvenated TS Galaxy at Mbombela Stadium on January 4, 2025, looking to snap their four-game winless streak in the Betway Premiership.
