Da Gama hopeful after striker scores on TS Galaxy debut

TS Galaxy coach Owen Da Gama was left happy and hopeful despite his team failing to win at home against Golden Arrows on Saturday afternoon.

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The Rockets played to a 2-2 draw against Golden Arrows in a DStv Premiership match at Mbombela Stadium.

But Da Gama’s heart was left with hope as two of his strikers managed to get on the scoresheet on the day. Mxolisi Macuphu equalised for the Rockets in the 43rd minute after Abafana Bes’thende had taken the lead via Michael Gumede’s 40th minute penalty strike. 

Arrows took the lead again early in the second half through Velemseni Ndwandwe but Mthobisi Mngomezulu, who was debuting for the Mpumalanga-based side ensured the share of the spoils with a late equaliser. 

“I am happy for Macuphu and Mthobisi… They are strikers and you want your strikers to score. Mthobisi played only 15 minutes and he scored,” said Da Gama. The well-travelled and experienced mentor said they knew the goal would come from the young striker because of what they had seen of him at training.  

“But we could see that coming. He is a hard worker and I believe there is more coming from him. He will get us a few goals. But it is a process. We have a lot of new players and they will need some time to settle in and understand how we work. I am happy with the fighting spirit because for me, that’s the most important thing. 

“The most important thing with Mthobisi is that he turns in the box, we have seen that. All the instruction we gave is that they should get the ball to his feet in the box. We knew he would turn them and have a shot on goal. 

“He has scored a lot of such goals at training. There was no special instruction to him, we just told him to go into the box and stay there. And when the ball comes he must do what he does best, turn and shoot. I am very happy for him.”