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 | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| Arcadia Shepherds Juniors | |||
| Pretoria Callies | 35 | (17) | |
| 1984–1985 | Beerschot | 15 | (8) |
| 1985–1988 | Derry City | 54 | (39) |
| 1988–1990 | Moroka Swallows | 46 | (28) |
| 1990–1991 | Halls Dynamos | 27 | (13) |
| Total | 177+ | (104+) | |
| 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 | ||
| 2014– | South Africa (Assistant Coach) | ||
| 2014– | South Africa U23 (Head Coach) | ||
| * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. | |||
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.
Da Gama began his playing career with Arcadia Shepherds F.C.Juniors u15, Colchester United (NPSL), Pretoria Callies and Dynamos where he moved to with Pretoria Callies Danish coach, the late Kai Johansson. Jahansson and Dan Manuel arranged for trials at Belgian club Beerschot in 1985, where he signed a three year deal.
After one and a half seasons and with new coach, Yugoslav, Davidovich, he was loaned out to League of Ireland team Derry City with the new coach bringing in 2(two)more foreign players. During his time at Derry City, he won the League of Ireland First Division Shield where he scored a hattrick in the final and the League of Ireland First Division where he was top goal scorer of the club and league. Da Gama was also named the PFAI First Division Player of the Year for the 1985–86 season and made a permanent move. Da Gama was the only player in Ireland with his own Fan Club.
He was than snapped up in 1989 by Spanish First Division Club Figueress. He was refused a work permit due to the Sports Embargo by the Spanish on all South Africans. Da Gama was lured back to South Africa by the wealthy club owner Errol Hughes of Durban Leeds Utd as player/coach where Leeds escaped relegation and went on to the BOBSAVE semi finals against Orlando Pirates in 1989 which Leeds lost on penalties.
At the end of that season Da Gama was signed by Moroka Swallows a move orchestrated by Abdul Bhamjee and David Pine Chabeli. He scored two goals and assisted in two more in a 5–1 victory against Mamelodi Sundowns in the 1989 Bob Save Super Bowl final replay and was named as Player of the Series. Swallows went on to win the Top Eight the following season as well as retaining the Bob Save Super Bowl in 1990. Some references being made as the best Swallows team ever.
Da Gama ended his playing career due to a serious knee injury while with Dynamos with whom he won the JPS Cup in 1990.
...
Wikipedia