New Bloemfontein Celtic coach Owen da Gama will not be wielding the big axe as he plots to get the under achieving Phunya Sele Sele out of relegation trouble.

Da Gama, who officially took charge of bottom of the log Celtic last Tuesday, said in an interview on Wednesday he will give every player at the club a fair chance.

Said Da Game: "I have not even thought about bringing in any players during the January transfer widow until I have assesed all the talent we have at the club. I want to treat all the players equally and that means giving them all a chance to prove to me they deserve to be in the squad."

Da Gama added he would be working closely with his predecessor, Mich D'Avray, who is now in charge of the club's new development programme.

Said Da Gama: "I have spoken to Mich and will have a meeting with him when he returns from holiday in Australia on Thursday about the players and to get his input. I am delighted Mich is staying on to run the academy as sometimes the best coaches are needed in that department and Mich will play a big role for the club in finding new talent."

Da Gama was brought in to replace D'Avray after Celtic were struggling at the bottom of the log for most of the first half of the season.

Said Da Gama: "Mich is a top class coach. But I was brought in for my experience and knowledge of the local game. There is no question Celtic are a big club and I will get them out of relegation. That is for definite. I am confident I will meet the challenge and get Celtic back to winning ways. But I still need to find out what went wrong and here Mich will help me understand the players better."

Da Gama has given his players two matches to impress and to start moving off the foot of the table. Celtic face Da Gama's former club, Platinum Stars, at Potchefstroom's Olen Park on Saturday and host Mamelodi Sundowns at their Seisa Ramabodu stronghold next Wednesday.

Said Da Gama" Those two matches will show me where we stand. They will give me the opportunity to assess the first team squad. But I will also be playing friendly matches where I want to give all my fringe players the chance to show me what they have got."

Da Gama said he would meet with the clubs's board if he felt it neccessary to bring in players to strengthen the squad after the Stars and Downs matches. "The ball is in the players court and it is up to them to show me they belong and that we do not need to bring in any new blood."

Da Gama said he was not worried about facing Stars — the club he coached for nine years and brought from the obscurity of the Vodacom League (Third Division) to the promised land of the PSL and won the Telkom Knockout with Stars in 2006.

Said Da Gama: "There is no sentiment in soccer. I am now coaching Celtic and my goal is to get the club out of relegation. There is no room for sentiment. I have great memories from the days at Stars but on Saturday night I will show them the same respect I would any other team I face. I have great respect for their coach, Miguel Gamondi, but my goal is simple — I want three points and that is what we are preparing for."