Times Of Swaziland: OWEN DA GAMA TO COACH FELIX, ‘FIGA’ OWEN DA GAMA TO COACH FELIX, ‘FIGA’ ================================================================================ BY NTOKOZO MAGONGO on 12/01/2021 00:52:00 MBABANE – Eswatini international stars Felix ‘Fela’ Badenhorst and Justice Figuareido have a new coach at South Africa’s TS Galaxy in the experienced Owen Da Gama. It is interesting to note that the DStv Premiership rookies will be facing their former coach, Dan ‘Dance’ Malesela, when they play Chippa United on Saturday under Da Gama. He (Da Gama) took over from Zipho Dlangalala, who was steering the club’s ship on an interim basis after the dismissal of Malesela some days ago. featured The two Eswatini stars will be hoping for more game time under Da Gama with Badenhorst having featured in two matches under Malesela and Dlangalala in the 10 games they have played so far in the league. Figuareido is yet to debut for the Mpumalanga based side while Badenhorst’s highlight was featuring against Mamelodi Sundowns. The 59-year-old Da Gama has penned a three-year deal with the Rockets, as TS Galaxy are affectionately known by their hordes of followers. The club’s President, Tim Sukazi, quoted in the club’s website has explained the reasons behind the appointment of Da Gama, who is regarded as a seasoned campaigner. “We are delighted in announcing Owen Da Gama as the head coach of TS Galaxy Football Club. “Owen is a seasoned coach who has lots of experience in the local game. Most importantly, Owen has a good understanding of the bulk of our current squad after having worked with them at Highlands Park,” Sukazi detailed. steered Da Gama has a proven record in South African football, having steered Silver Stars to glory back in 2006 when he reigned supreme in the inaugural Telkom Cup and also finished that season in the second position. He was also nominated as the Coach of the Season. “As a club, we took the view that we would be best placed with a coach who has experience in the local game as the season is already running and there is no time to orientate a coach who has never coached in DStv Premiership. “Given where we are in the season, we wanted someone who will hit the ground running from the onset,” Sukazi added. Efforts were made to get the comment of both players but they had not responded to their WhatsApp messages at the time of compiling this report.