Highlands coach Da Gama appeals to supporters for support
Highlands Park coach Owen Da Gama has asked the supporters of the Lions of the North to step up and support the struggling side.
Owen Da Gama coach of Highlands Park (Pic Sydney Mahlangu/BackpagePix)
Da Gama’s side has lost the three games in succession with reports suggesting that the former Bafana Bafana coach’s time at the club is coming to an end.
“You’ve got supporters and you’ve got fans‚” said Da Gama.
“I think we need to distinguish that. I believe there are supporters that will support the entire team when things are not going well. And that’s what you expect from the supporters.
“With regard to fans‚ they can say whatever they want to say. They’ve got a right to say whatever they want to say. I mean I was fired at least seven times this week. Or I resigned seven times this week,” he added.
Da Gama is confident that Highlands will turn things around and produce results soon.
“Some people just sort of assume things and so on‚ but in all fairness we’re really going through a bad patch. But I can tell you‚ we’ll turn around and somebody is going to pay for this. We will turn around.
“And to the fans‚ all that we can ask for them‚ I mean we were in the cup final (MTN 8)‚ from the NFD and we broke six records.
“First season in the PSL we went to the top eight‚ it’s another record and it’s never been done. Second season in the PSL straight to a cup final‚ it’s never been done.
“Now we were very happy that the supporters were behind us‚ but there also speed bumps in football. We’re not the only team that goes through a slump. All teams go through a slump at some time or the other.
“So we just appeal to them to say ‘this is the time when the players and the technical team really need their support’. They must show that they’re true supporters.
“You can’t… you can’t (give up)‚ what happens if we win the next 10 games? What’s going to happen?
“You can’t just have things your way as a supporter all the time. Sometimes it’s like a child. If your child fails at school you can’t abandon your child. You try and pick up your child and encourage your child. And that same child goes on to become a doctor.
“So I think we need the support and we’ll certainly appreciate it,” concluded Da Gama.
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