TS GALAXY COACH PRAISES IMPRESSIVE ‘BIRDS’

NELSPRUIT – DStv Premiership side TS Galaxy coach Sead Ramovic praised the quality of Mbabane Swallows after playing a closely-contested 2-2 draw with the Mbabane giants on Saturday night at Mbombela Stadium.

In a match that went back and forth between the teams, DStv Premiership side TS Galaxy, nicknamed ‘The Rockets,’ hosted Mbabane Swallows on Saturday night in a riveting game of two halves at the Mbombela Stadium. The home side took the lead early when midfielder Prince Mahlangu scored a penalty, sending Swallows goalkeeper Sandanezwe Mathabela the wrong way. Mbabane Swallows pulled back level through a spectacular goal by attacking midfielder Leon ‘Schuster’ Manyisa, who slotted home a one-two combination with Given Lukhele. The hosts regained their lead through a well-executed header by midfielder Kamogelo Sebelebele.

Powerful

However, the Mbabane giants fought back once again, with Kingsley Kwayki’s powerful header securing a 2-2 draw and an entertaining end to a game of two contrasting halves. TS Galaxy coach Sead Ramovic was complimentary of the Mbabane giants’ quality in the post-match interview. “The match was an excellent test for my players, and we faced a quality team. I think we were very close to a win and overall we did well. We created many opportunities, but we just couldn’t capitalise on them. We didn’t manage the final pass effectively, but we’ll analyse our performance and prepare for the league. I’m confident we’ll be ready when the league starts,” he said.

Coach Ramovic further noted that any team facing Mbabane Swallows would have a challenge as the Eswatini side was a formidable opponent. “Mbabane Swallows is a solid team and any team that plays against them will have their hands full. They were a tough opponent and I was impressed by their play,” he added. Meanwhile, Caleb ‘No Nonsense’ Ngwenya, Mbabane Swallows coach, shared his thoughts on the match. He believed that his team’s performance was a good indicator of their readiness for the upcoming Confederation of African Football (CAF) Champions League.

“It was very important for us and we appreciate the invite from Galaxy to come and play here because we are preparing for a Champions League preliminary round with a team from Mozambique. It gave us an idea of our team, what is it that we need to go and work on,” Ngwenya said. The Umkhonto KaShaka coach explained that the match against TS Galaxy was a valuable test for the team. “It was a good game for us; I think we have learnt a lot. We are in our second week of preseason. It showed us exactly where we need to go and what we need to go back and do. We are a bit behind conditionally; it was a good test for my boys and a very good planning; most of them are young. I think they’ve learnt a lot from this game,’ he added.

The other match of the Mpumalanga Premier’s International Cup saw German Bundelisga side FC Augsburg emerge victorious against Yanga FC, winning 2-1. The German team will  conclude their South African tour with a match against hosts TS Galaxy scheduled for next Sunday, 27 July 2024. Augsburg’s participation in the tournament was seen as a valuable opportunity for cross-cultural exchange and a chance for local fans to witness world-class football. The MTN Premier League champions will resume their pre-season training in South Africa before returning to their home country on Thursday.

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