TS Galaxy have fired coach Owen Da Gama with immediate effect, the club confirmed on Monday.
The bottom-placed team only picked up two draws from five games so far and sacked Da Gama following a 4-2 defeat to Royal AM, replacing him with Shaun Bartlett as interim coach.
“TS Galaxy FC has parted ways with Coach Owen Da Gama. This is one of those bitter pills that we had to swallow as a Club given the kind of contribution that Coach Owen has made to our Club,” club president Tim Sukazi said.
“Unfortunately, we have had a faulty start to the season and with football being a result-driven business, decisions like this are bound to be taken at some point or another if results aren’t forthcoming.
“Our new focus from now on is to get the team back on track. Coach Shaun is taking over the reins in an interim capacity until a final decision on the Head Coach is made.”
Bartlett himself added: ”It is always sad when a fellow colleague is relieved of his duties. I’ve been requested by the club to take over on an interim basis and see how we can turn things around and try and get the best out of the players.
“The next game is the most important one. Coach Owen had done several good things here. We must build on that and not disregard some of the things he has done here. We’ve got to pay tribute to the coach for what he has done in such a short space of time.”
Bartlett began his coaching career as an assistant at Golden Arrows before stepping up to the head coach role. But despite getting Arrows promoted from the NFD he was released by the club.
He had a spell as head coach of Tuks before joining Kaizer Chiefs as an assistant where he served from 2018 to 2020.
He eventually joined Galaxy when ODG took over and has also served an an assistant for the national senior and U23s teams.
