Owen da Gama has dismissed suggestions that he’s been approached to replace John Maduka at Royal AM but confirmed he is keen to get back into coaching.
Maduka who is said to have tendered his resignation for a surprise move to Maritzburg United, as reported by KickOff on Monday, will seemingly vacate his role at the KZN outfit after just one season.
The head coaching position at Royal AM, however, provides an attractive option with the club set to participate in the 2022/23 CAF Confederation Cup after the Malawi icon led them to third place in the DStv Premiership.
iDiski Times understands da Gama and Gavin Hunt are among the names that have been shortlisted as his potential replacement but the former Orlando Pirates mentor says he’s not received any contact as of yet.
“I shoot straight, I have not been contacted by them, not at all,” Da Gama tells iDiski Times. “I don’t know whether they are trying because I’m here on my farm in Limpopo as I’m keeping busy.
“I don’t sit at home biting my nails and hope someone gets fired. I keep myself busy here on my farm, my two sons are here with me and my mom. I try to keep things going [after leaving a job] and then go back to watching football, watching football, watching football as I still want to be a coach, it’s my passion. I still want to prove a point, a big point.
“But I must be honest with you, there are one or two other teams that have sent a representative to call me indirectly, would I be interested, what’s my situation – but nothing official. Two in the PSL and one in the NFD.”
Da Gama holds a wealth of experience in the South African top-flight that dates back to the early 90s with Dynamos, while he impressed with spells at Silver Stars, Platinum Stars, the South Africa U23 national team before landing a role with Bafana Bafana and eventually a memorable spell at Highlands Park.
His last stint in coaching came at Sekhukhuke United this past season where he eventually parted ways in good spirits after five games and thanked the Babina Noko hierarchy for the good relationship built there during his time at the club.
Story by Lorenz Kohler.
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