TS Galaxy refuse to hide behind selling-club tag as Nedbank Cup ambition grows

TS Galaxy still want to compete for honours this season, including a Betway Premiership top-eight finish and the Nedbank Cup crown, which is why they refuse to hide behind the fact that they are a selling club.

Galaxy have been on an upward trajectory in the elite league since acquiring Highlands Park’s status a few seasons ago, finishing in the top eight in each of the last two seasons.

Their growth has been marvellous to watch. They have achieved this while nurturing some of their best players, only to sell them to suitors locally and abroad.

With current coach Adnan Beganovic having stepped into the role more than a year ago after replacing his superior, Sead Ramovic, and fully understanding the club’s policy, he believes there is no excuse not to compete for honours.

The Rockets have sold four of their best players in the past six months: Kamogelo Sebelebele (Orlando Pirates), Khulumani Damani (Mamelodi Sundowns), Qobolwakhe Sibande (Petroject) and, most recently, Puso Dithejane (Chicago Fire).

“I don’t want to say that we lost some players,” Beganovic said. “I have explained that we produce and sell our players because we want to do that. We decide in crucial moments to sell our players.

“If we do that and then struggle, then we are on the wrong path. But I think TS Galaxy have sold players to the best teams locally, in Africa, overseas, and now in the United States. I think every season we still make a step forward.

“Even at the start of the season, I spoke about where we belong, and we are now in the top eight on the log.”

Beganovic added that what matters most is not who leaves the club, but that the remaining players continue to perform according to the team’s style of football and meet expectations.

“Most importantly for me, as the coach of TS Galaxy, is how my team plays and their quality,” Beganovic said. “We keep the level of football regardless of how many players we sell.

“We can go down or up by 30% or 10%, but our goal is always to push forward, especially if we lose some players.

“Our goal in the league is not just to take part in competitions for the sake of playing games. Last year in the Nedbank Cup, we were in a tough situation because we were bottom of the log and trying to move up.”

Winning the Nedbank Cup is not foreign to Galaxy. They achieved the improbable in 2019, becoming the first lower-division side to win the competition after beating the mighty Amakhosi in Durban.

As a result, Beganovic is eager to deliver the club’s second Ke Yona Cup, proving that challenges such as losing key players and facing transfer bans will not determine their destiny, as long as they have hungry players and a clean bill of health.

“I want to put more focus on the Nedbank Cup and use healthy and fit players because I want to progress to the next round,” Beganovic said. “If we can reach the final, then I want to do that and try to win the trophy.

“It’s a great opportunity. If you look at our quality and how we’ve played this season, even though we had problems at the beginning, I never complained. We have enough players.”

Galaxy will face Marumo Gallants in the Nedbank Cup last-32 at Solomon Mahlangu Stadium on Sunday (3pm kick-off). Given that they are expected to be buoyed by their home supporters and pumped up for the game, expectations are high that they will reach the last 16.