TS Galaxy gain momentum with back-to-back wins as transfer ban is lifted

TS Galaxy have bounced back from a slow start to the season, securing their second consecutive win with a 2-0 triumph over Siwelele FC at Mbombela Stadium on Tuesday evening.

A first-half brace from Seluleko Mahlambi handed the Rockets the victory, while the newcomers have now slipped into a three-match losing streak after opening the campaign with a promising 3-1 win over Golden Arrows.

For Galaxy, the win comes during their most successful phase of the season, further boosted by the lifting of their Fifa transfer ban, which had prevented their new signings from featuring in the opening matches. With the squad now complete, Galaxy coach Adnan Beganovic has been able to deploy his preferred lineup and tactics, which have begun to yield results.

The Bosnian mentor was pleased with how his side executed the game plan and effectively neutralized Siwelele’s attacking threats.

“We analysed Siwelele and how they played,” Beganovic said after his sides win.

“We tried to hold the ball for as long as we possibly could because we were trying to open up space on the sides for our fullbacks to create and overload them two against one.

“We didn’t want to rush too much, as we could lose the ball, especially because we don’t play through the middle. We knew Siwelele is strong in transition, and if we were too open, we could easily concede and ruin everything.

“We wanted to keep the ball and build up from the back, then wait for the opportunity to create on the sides.”

Looking ahead, Galaxy will face newcomers Orbit College at Dobsonville Stadium this Saturday. And while they continue to climb back into form after their early stumbles, Siwelele has struggled to maintain momentum and is yet to find consistency in the league after their bright start.

Coach Lehlohonolo Seema believes his side showed promise throughout the contest, but they were ultimately undone by their missed opportunities in the final third.

“Sitting here, I cannot believe that we have lost the game by 2-0,” Seema said.

“In the first half, before they scored, we had a chance we should have finished. It would have opened up the game, but we didn’t find the finish.

“I must give credit to the boys for the game plan and structure. We gave TS Galaxy a bit of a problem, especially in the first half, because they couldn’t find the spaces they wanted for (Puso) Dithejane and Mahlambi. Our plan was solid.”

With a short turnaround before they welcome the high flying Richards Bay FC at the Dr. Petrus Molemela Stadium this coming Friday, Seema took the positives from his side’s third defeat of the season.

“I cannot fault the boys for the effort. The players who started and the substitutions created action in TS Galaxy’s box, but we couldn’t put the ball in the back of the net.

“We are a work in progress. We are a team that needs to score first, and we have to fix our recovery when conceding, but if we continue playing like this, there are a lot of positives to come.”