Owen joins Highlands
Phakaaathi understands that former Bafana Bafana assistant coach Owen da Gama (above) has been appointed the new Highlands Park mentor. Da Gama has been without a job since he was axed from the national team’s technical team by Stuart Baxter in May. Da Gama last took charge of a National First Division side in the 2012/13 season when he was at the helm of Dynamos before he landed the national Under-23 coaching position.
Orlando Pirates coach Milutin Sredojevic is said to have used his favourite striker Thamsanqa Gabuza (above) to send a warning to other players that any form of misbehaving would not be tolerated. Gabuza was a notable absence when the Buccaneers played Cape Town City last week and it has emerged that the reason behind it may be a disciplinary measure. Gabuza allegedly left camp without the team’s approval and Sredojevic promptly axed him from the team as a disciplinary measure designed to show the striker who the boss is. A Phakaaathi source also claimed that Gabuza could be on his way to a Scandinavian team when the transfer window opens again.
A source in the Banyana Banyana camp has revealed to Phakaaathi that some of the players in the team are against the permanent appointment of Desiree Ellis (above) as head coach. According to the source, players are not confident with Ellis as a coach of the team and they want someone with more experience to coach them. “She is not that bad, but players don’t want her to become a permanent coach. That is why Safa is yet to appoint a new coach. The delay was the issue with Ellis because some people in Safa think she is the perfect choice for the job, but the players do not,” said the source. Ellis took charge after the departure of Vera Pauw last year.
AmaZulu captain Tapelo Nyongo (above) is set to miss the rest of the year after he suffered a contusion on his ribs during Usuthu’s match against Platinum Stars on Saturday. “We are not sure how long it will be, but I don’t see him playing any further part at least this year. He might be back only in January,” said a source at the club. At 22, Nyongo has already set a record as the Absa Premiership’s youngest captain. “It is unfortunate because he was doing so well and I heard the Bafana Bafana coach sees him as one for the future and was monitoring his progress. This will be bad for him but he has to be strong,” said another source.