Cape Town - Owen Da Gama says he will never apply to be the head coach of Bafana Bafana.

The Highlands Park mentor has won many plaudits for the sterling job he is doing with the Lions of the North.

Da Gama has held the South Africa caretaker coach position before but he has never raised his hand to be given the job permanently.

The former Orlando Pirates mentor also revealed the he is happy for Molefi Ntseki, who was appointed as Stuart Baxter's successor.

"Look, I never raised my hand to be honest with you," Da Gama told KickOff

"I said if I'm called upon... I've never applied for a soccer job in my life. Even this Highlands one, never.

"So I wouldn't apply. Let's say for some reason or other somebody was not available and they asked me to step in, I would have done it. This is my country.

"But in saying that I had already recommended a lot of coaches before me. I think Gavin Hunt has achieved more than me, Pitso [Mosimane] has achieved more than me. You know there are coaches that have really done very well.

"So I never want to be... my time will come you know, if I'm good enough. But for now I'm very happy for Ntseki, and I'm just happy it's a South African. That's all I've been praying for."