Beganovic needs everyone at Galaxy to play their part

TS Galaxy head coach Adnan Beganovic is counting on every player in his squad to play their part during the next two months as they prepare to kick off the new year with a home clash against Magesi at the Mbombela Stadium on Saturday, January 4.

Kick-off is at 3:30pm CAT (SA, GMT+2)

CURRENT FORM:

The Rockets will ease into 2025 with just two games this month in the Betway Premiership, but they play six times in the space of just 21 days in February, making it a congested period of fixtures.

Galaxy continued their impressive start to life under Beganovic when they beat Royal AM 3-1 in their final match of 2024 to climb up to 10th place in the league standings, one point outside the top eight.

The Mpumalanga outfit have now picked up 11 points from their last five outings and they remain unbeaten since Beganovic took over the reins from Sead Ramovic in November.

Magesi appear to be in serious trouble, having seen Clinton Larsen tender his resignation immediately after the 3-0 defeat to an All-Stars XI in the Carling Black Label Cup on December 21.

Larsen had made history in guiding the top-flight newcomers to their maiden trophy with success in the Carling Knockout which saw them overcome Orlando Pirates, Galaxy, Richards Bay and Mamelodi Sundowns.

But their league form has suffered and Dikwena tsa Meetse prop up the table on just six points following the 1-0 loss to the Buccaneers on December 29, leaving them two points adrift of safety and without a win in their last seven games.

WHAT WAS SAID:

TS Galaxy head coach Adnan Beganovic

"We expect a tough two months because in January we play I think two games because Sundowns has more games because of the Champions League. Then we have Magesi and [Golden] Arrows. Probably play Nedbank Cup [on] 25-26 [January].

"Then in February, we have five or six games, mostly we play at home, five games. Then I think in the morning when we analysed I said we need all our players, all our players because it's tight, we play Saturday, Wednesday and then Sunday.

"It's a tight schedule but we have enough players and whoever plays I expect to play on 100 per cent and I think whoever plays can replace that position and play well."

PLAYERS TO WATCH:

TS Galaxy - Dzenan Zajmovic has settled in his new surroundings quickly since arriving in South Africa from FK Radnik in September. The 30-year-old striker scored in his first start against Chippa United on September 29 and has become a key figure for Beganovic, with his opener against Thwihli Thwahla making him the club's top scorer in the league with four goals.

Magesi - Wonderboy Makhubu has been one of the standout players for the 2023-24 Motsepe Foundation Championship winners this season, featuring in all nine games since missing the Betway Premiership opener against parent club Sekhukhune united on September 18. The 27-year-old striker will be looking to make amends after missing a penalty against Pirates to leave him on two goals for the campaign.