Owen Da Gama

Former Orlando Pirates coach Owen Da Gama has explained why he had to turn down offers for a return to the PSL at the start of the 2023/24 season.

PSL - Figure 1
Photo FARPost

Da Gama has been without a club since parting ways with Motsepe Foundation Championship side Black Leopards last season.

While there has been a merry-go-round in terms of coaches in both the DStv Premiership and first division, the 62-year-old remains unattached. He tells FARPost that he had an opportunity to return to the top-flight, but he didn’t share the vision of some of the clubs that approached him.

WHY SOME PSL OFFERS COULD NOT CONVINCE OWEN DA GAMA TO RETURN TO THE DUGOUT

“I spoke to a few teams at the beginning of the season, but once I understood their thinking, I just thought this is not the project I want to be part of,” Da Gama told FARPost.

Owen Da Gama during his time at Black Leopards

“I am not a fly-by-night. But what I do believe is that you can make changes, but football is a process. When I look at those teams that I spoke to at the beginning of the season, they are all struggling. I knew that I could not be part of something like that.

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Photo FARPost

“So there are very good teams that are well run professionally in the PSL and the NFD. Obviously, I am looking forward to being part of a professional set-up.”

THREE-TIME PROMOTION WINNER ENHANCING HIS COACHING KNOWLEDGE

Da Gama also revealed that he has been enhancing his coaching knowledge while still waiting for the right move.

“I have been watching a lot of football, and I am also with the Spanish Football Institute,” he said. “I have been in some courses with them, just to keep up to date.

“As you know, Spain has been dominating football since 2010, and they have set a trend that today everybody is trying to adopt. You saw how Pep Guardiola was the first coach to start playing from the back. Now, they have set a trend.

“So I just wanted to upgrade myself and understand. You are never too young or too old to learn, so I have been making sure that I can keep up to date and evolve with the game.”

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