Owen Da Gama
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Owen Joao Cornelius Da Gama | ||
| Date of birth | 18 August 1961 | ||
| Place of birth | Volksrust, South Africa | ||
| Height | 1.7 m (5 ft 7 in) | ||
| Playing position | Striker (retired) | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
| Arcadia Shepherds | |||
| Pretoria Callies | |||
| 1984–1985 | Beerschot | 7 | (0) |
| 1985–1988 | Derry City | ? | (27) |
| 1989– | Moroka Swallows | ||
| – | Dynamos | ||
| Teams managed | |||
| 1997–1998 | Dynamos | ||
| 1998–1999 | Silver Stars | ||
| 1999–2000 | PSM Parkhurst | ||
| 2000–2007 | Platinum Stars | ||
| 2007–2008 | Orlando Pirates | ||
| 2008 | Free State Stars | ||
| 2009–2010 | Bloemfontein Celtic | ||
| 2010–2012 | Platinum Stars | ||
| 2012-2013 | Dynamos | ||
| * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. † Appearances (Goals). | |||
Owen Da Gama (born 18 August 1961) is a former South African footballer and manager. He previously managed Platinum Stars as well as Orlando Pirates.
Playing Career
Da Gama began his playing career with Arcadia Shepherds and Pretoria Callies before moving to Belgian club Beerschot in 1985. After a single season at Beerschot, he joined League of Ireland team Derry City. During his time at Derry City, he won the League of Ireland First Division Shield and the League of Ireland First Division. Da Gama was also named the PFAI First Division Player of the Year for the 1985–86 season.[1] Da Gama returned to South Africa in 1989 and joined Moroka Swallows. He scored 2 goals in a 5–1 victory against Mamelodi Sundowns in the 1989 Bob Save Super Bowl final replay.[2] Da Gama ended his playing career with Dynamos.
Coaching Career
Da Gama began coaching at his former club Dynamos. He left Dynamos after one year and joined Silver Stars in 1998, guiding them to promotion from the Vodacom League to the National First Division at the first attempt.[3] He was forced to leave the club at the end of that season in order to attend to his IT business in Pretoria. During this time, he coached and co-owned PSM Parkhurst in the Vodacom League.[3]
In 2000, Da Gama rejoined Silver Stars for a second spell, with the team choosing to train in Johannesburg and only travel to Venda for their matches.[3] Under his management, the team won 9 of their 11 matches and avoided relegation from the National First Division.[3] In the 2003 ABSA Cup, Silver Stars famously beat Orlando Pirates 2–0 in the second-round[4] before losing to Jomo Cosmos in the quarter-finals. Silver Stars achieved promotion to the Premier Soccer League at the end of the 2002–03 season.[5] The club achieved a 11th place finish in their debut campaign in the PSL. He was named as PSL Coach of the Season at the end of the 2005-06 season. Da Gama led Silver Stars to victory in the 2006 Telkom Knockout Cup with Simba Marumo scoring a first-half hat-trick in a 3–1 win against Ajax Cape Town at the Atteridgeville Super Stadium. In the 2006-07 season, Silver Stars finished 2nd in the league and managed to achieve a place in the 2008 CAF Champions League.
In September 2007, he replaced Bibey Mutombo as the head coach of Orlando Pirates after 4 games of the season.[6] The Buccaneers ended Da Gama's only season in charge in 8th place - their worst ever position in the PSL era. Da Gama quit the club in June 2008.[7] He joined Free State Stars as technical director in August 2008 [8] but replaced David Duncan as manager prior to the start of the league season.[9] Da Gama's spell at Free State Stars was brief, with him quitting in October 2008, citing management interference with team selections.[10] He joined Bloemfontein Celtic in December 2008, with the club in last place on the table[11] and managed to help the team finish 14th in the 2008-09 season, avoiding the relegation play-offs thanks to goal difference. Da Gama led them to an improvement in the following season as they finished 6th. He left the club in July 2010.[12]
Da Gama rejoined Platinum Stars in August 2010.[13] He guided the team to a 10th place finish in the 2010-11 season. The following season was marred by allegations that he solicited bribes from his players in order to select them in the team, and Da Gama was suspended in March 2012 pending an investigation.[14] He was cleared of any wrongdoing in May 2012, but was still removed as head coach of the club after they agreed to settle the remainder of his contract.[15]
Da Gama joined Dynamos in November 2012 with the club at the bottom of the National First Division log[16] but left the club in March 2013.[17]
Honours
- League of Ireland First Division: 1
- Derry City F.C. 1986-87
- League of Ireland First Division Shield: 1
- Derry City F.C. 1985-86
References
- ↑ "PFAI FIRST DIVISION PLAYER OF THE YEAR". Retrieved 29 October 2013.
- ↑ "This is the ultimate match - Da Gama". IOL. Retrieved 29 October 2013.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 "Orlando Pirates embark on a journey". IOL. Retrieved 29 October 2013.
- ↑ "MTN8 Final: All you need to know!". Retrieved 29 October 2013.
- ↑ "About the NFD". Retrieved 29 October 2013.
- ↑ "Da Gama takes helm at Bucs". Retrieved 29 October 2013.
- ↑ "Da Gama leaves Pirates". Retrieved 29 October 2013.
- ↑ "Da Gama joins Free State Stars". Retrieved 29 October 2013.
- ↑ "Da Gama takes over hot seat at Stars". Retrieved 29 October 2013.
- ↑ "Da Gama quits Free State Stars". Retrieved 29 October 2013.
- ↑ "Da Gama is finally at Celtic". Retrieved 29 October 2013.
- ↑ "It's official; Da Gama out of Celtic". Retrieved 29 October 2013.
- ↑ "Stars finally confirm Da Gama is coach". Retrieved 29 October 2013.
- ↑ "Platinum Stars suspend Owen da Gama". Retrieved 29 October 2013.
- ↑ "Stars clear Owen Da Gama of bribery allegations". Retrieved 29 October 2013.
- ↑ "Da Gama is new Dynamos coach". Retrieved 29 October 2013.
- ↑ "Murape Takes Dynamos Coaching Job". Retrieved 29 October 2013.
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