Former Bafana Bafana interim coach Owen Da Gama has clarified his decision to join newly promoted ABC FC as technical director after being announced by two Limpopo ABC Motsepe League clubs within four days.
The 64-year-old tactician has been unattached since parting ways with Botswana Premier League side Black Lions FC last season. He was initially announced by Vondwe XI Bullets, a club he previously coached during the 2024/25 season before moving to Betway Premiership side Magesi FC.
During his previous spell at Vondwe, Da Gama was credited with helping establish a more professional structure at the club, which narrowly missed out on winning its stream.
Da Gama has now explained that his discussions with Vondwe had not been finalised when the club announced his return as technical director.
Speaking on PhalaPhala FM on Saturday afternoon, Da Gama said he had recommended former Highlands Park midfielder Stanley Kgatla for the Vondwe head coaching position, having worked with him for 11 years at Silver Stars and Highlands Park.
I recommended Stanley Kgatla because he was my captain for 11 years at Silver Stars and Highlands Park. He knows his job, he will help the team very well. He’s a good teacher and a capable coach,” Da Gama said.
Kgatla was subsequently appointed as Vondwe’s head coach, with Da Gama expected to support him in a technical capacity. However, Da Gama said he was simultaneously exploring opportunities elsewhere, including discussions with clubs in the NFD and PSL, as well as potential opportunities in Durban, Cape Town, Ghana and Zambia.
He said none of those negotiations materialised, leaving him open to contributing to football closer to home.
Da Gama explained that Vondwe’s chairman, Mr Siebe, later approached him and asked him to support Kgatla, but the two parties could not agree on the way forward.
“It wasn’t about money but about commitment on how we can help each other,” he explained.
According to Da Gama, he was therefore surprised when Vondwe announced on social media that he had joined the club despite the negotiations not having been concluded.
I was surprised because we had not finalised the deal,” he said.
Da Gama said he remained willing to assist Vondwe by recommending Kgatla, but was also prepared to consider another local project should the opportunity arise.
That opportunity eventually came through ABC FC, who recently secured promotion to the Limpopo ABC Motsepe League through the Hollywoodbets SAFA Limpopo promotion playoffs.
Da Gama said the newly promoted club’s professional approach and long-term vision ultimately convinced him to join.
He stressed that the decision was not motivated by money, pointing to his previous experience working for clubs in the PSL and NFD where immediate results were often demanded.
It’s not about money because, to be honest, I’ve surpassed this stage a lot,” Da Gama said.
Instead, he was attracted by ABC FC’s desire to build a sustainable football project from the ground up, develop young players and establish professional structures before pursuing promotion.
They want a professional project, maybe next season or the following season they’ll be able to qualify for the playoffs and then be promoted to the NFD,” he explained.
Da Gama said ABC FC’s approach reminded him of the development of Ajax Cape Town, which he described as a project that was built from scratch before becoming a major South African football institution.
The experienced coach believes ABC FC has the potential to eventually become a major force in Venda, particularly because the club is not placing immediate pressure on itself to compete with established sides.
What excited me is that they’re not competing with any team in the ABC Motsepe League. They’re competing with themselves,” Da Gama said.
He added that the club’s focus is on developing young players and empowering them to progress to higher levels of the game.
Da Gama will now work alongside ABC FC’s existing coaching staff in his technical director role, with his responsibilities centred on providing guidance, experience and support rather than dictating to the coaches.
I’m going to sit down and use my experience to empower and help the coaches, not to tell them what to do but to add to what they’re already doing right,” he said.
He also wants to see the club’s coaches obtain higher coaching qualifications, believing that their development will benefit both the coaches and the players.
I’m here to push, help and support the current coaches and put in a good developmental structure,” Da Gama added.
While his move to ABC FC has brought an end to the confusion surrounding the two announcements, Da Gama’s connection with Vondwe remains strong. He previously coached the club, recommended Kgatla for the head coaching position and remains supportive of its ambitions.
However, he believes ABC FC’s long-term vision presented the right opportunity for him at this stage of his career, a project focused less on instant success and more on building a professional football institution capable of producing players, coaches and teams for the future.