We had our own fortress

Betway Premiership rookies Magesi FC kicked off the season by storming into the Carling Knockout final before defeating Mamelodi Sundowns 2-1. After the historic win, the wheels started coming off as the team lost four matches in a row. Coach Owen da Gama replaced Clinton Larsen and helped the team finish in 13th position on the table. In this interview with Soccer Laduma’s Masebe Qina, Da Gama reflects

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Betway Premiership rookies Magesi FC kicked off the season by storming into the Carling Knockout final before defeating Mamelodi Sundowns 2-1. After the historic win, the wheels started coming off as the team lost four matches in a row. Coach Owen da Gama replaced Clinton Larsen and helped the team finish in 13th position on the table. In this interview with Soccer Laduma’s Masebe Qina, Da Gama reflects

costly because they had conceded many goals from outside the box. We switched to a medium or medium-high block, which allowed our goalkeeper, Elvis Chipezeze, to control his area better. Previously, he was crowded by defenders and often caught out by deflections, like the first goal against Sundowns. Over time, he improved massively, keeping about nine clean sheets during that period. All these factors combined were crucial to us turning the season around.

MQ: Your team's 1-1 draw with Orlando Pirates on the final day completed the turnaround and a strong second half of the season. What was the mood in the dressing room after that match?

ODG: The mood was fantastic. Everyone was happy, but the boys were also very tired-they gave everything they had. Drawing away against Pirates is no easy task. The players did exceptionally well. There was a lot of singing and celebration, but as we left Soweto, things quieted down because the players were exhausted. After a meal, they went straight to rest. The next day, we met to finalise plans for the season moving forward.