Da Gama dismisses Highlands Park critics

Highlands Park head coach Owen Da Gama insists he doesn't care what the critics have to say about his team's style of play.

The Lions of the North have often been slammed for what some consider an overly physical approach to the game of football, but Da Gama says even though everyone has a right to an opinion he doesn't have to pay attention to them, especially considering the success Highlands have enjoyed.

"I think people have a right to voice their opinions, it's a free country so they can say whatever they want. They don't pay my salary so I basically don't give a damn," Da Gama said, as quoted by KickOff.

"My bosses are very happy with what we've achieved in such a short space. We've broken records every season. We broke six records in the NFD. We broke a record last year for being the first [promoted] team to make it into the top eight.

"We've been the first team this season going to the final, so you see people they've got a right to say what they want and I respect opinions but we know what we want."

Da Gama went on to explain that his squad can't play the way teams like Kaizer Chiefs play and that they need to employ tactics which suit his players.

The Highlands boss also pointed out that his players have a fantastic work rate which often pushes the opposition to their limits.

"We cannot play like Chiefs. We cannot play like Pirates or Golden Arrows. We can play like Highlands Park. That is how we play," he added.

"One thing, you will sweat when you play Highlands Park, you sweat. You will sleep for three days after playing Highlands Park.

"It's a fact and everybody knows that. We are hardworking and we work very, very hard."

- TEAMtalk media