I am very capable to coach Bafana Bafana, says Owen Da Gama

Bafana Bafana are still without a head coach following South African Football Association’s decision to sack Shakes Mashaba late last year.

While there is still speculation about the name of the future Bafana coach, Owen Da Gama has thrown his name into the mix.

Da Gama, who was an assistant to Mashaba, was appointed on an interim basis to oversee Bafana’s two international friendlies against Guinea-Bissau and Angola, and the 55-year-old has expressed his desire to take over from where the 66-year-old left off.

"I think it's any coach's dream to coach [the national team] and the response from the players has been fantastic and the mood in the camp has been ecstatic," Da Gama told the media. 

"You know whatever happens will happen. I think I'm very capable and I've proven beyond any doubt. I've been over here hearing people are qualified to be in or not qualified... I don't understand that, maybe I should understand it a little bit more," he said. 

"But with what has happened with the national U-23 team and the very same team, 90 percent of those players are currently key players that played in the Brazil team. With the exposure that we got at the U-23s and over 50 matches that I've been part of Bafana, understanding our culture of football, watching over 1200 games in the country, I think I've got an idea of what is happening within the national setup and with our players,” Da Gama added.

"There are players on the fringes like Lebogang Maboe at Maritzburg United and those are players that knocking on the door. We know about these players and we are not only looking at the superficial Bafana players or looking at the top players, but there are other players that we are aware of. So, we are well versed.

"I've coached for over 11 years in the PSL. We are well versed. I've coached a big club like Orlando Pirates but I don't say I'm the right man. What I'm saying is I certainly believe and understand South African football very, very well," he continued. 

"And I know players in South Africa. So, I think I have a clear understanding of what is at hand and I think I've got the experience," Da Gama concluded.