Sukazi Gamble Reaping Rewards For Galaxy

When Tim Sukazi appointed Sead Ramovic in October 2021, there was a widespread uproar over the ‘unknown European’ who succeed Owen da Gama after a run of six games without a win and 11 goals conceded to start to the 2021/22 season – 11 months on they sit sixth on the table after the same amount of games, while only conceding once.

While the start of Ramovic’s tenure wasn’t smooth sailing, Sukazi stuck to his guns, despite the first half of the campaign before the mid-season break due to the Africa Cup of Nations making for grim reading.

It was 17 games played, 13 points amassed and staring at the favourites’ tag for relegation. However, since the turn of the year, it’s been a rise befitting of the Rockets’ name.

The final 13 games saw them pick up 17 points for the remainder of the season which included a memorable win over Orlando Pirates and the final day three points over Chippa United to retain their top-flight status.

In that run, they kept seven clean sheets, and this should be credited to Ramovic, a former goalkeeper in his day, who was once close to plying his trade in the Premier Soccer League at one point. But that story is for another day.

He placed his faith in South African Melusi Buthelezi over his Bosnian compatriot Vasilije Kolak and it paid dividends.

The towering 24-year-old has since helped them keep 12 clean sheets in 19 games played since the turn of the year and Sukazi, contextualised how this was achieved.

“In the quarter four, the last seven round of matches, we were two points less than Sundowns who won the quarter, in those matches we last one, we collected 12, Sundowns collected 14, they won it,” Sukazi, who stated upon Ramovic’s appointment that he would benefit South African football, said recently.

“Fast track to this season, it’s a continuation, really we’re on a course, it started somewhere, the beginning of the calendar year, 2022, and it has been continuing, so we’ve been consistent.

“The beauty is that, probably, we didn’t drop any penny during our pre-season preparations, sometimes you may end very well then come pre-season you lose a number of things within your working systems and then you have to re-start.

“We haven’t done so, in this calendar year we’ve secured the most number of clean sheets than any other club, so it’s a continuation – we’re consistent, it’s no surprise.”

Galaxy have been lauded for their immense fitness and fluidity of their game in the early stages of the season, added to their defensive solidity, which saw them only lose and concede their first goal in match week six against Cape Town City last week.

But Sukazi says there are no secrets besides hard work and lessons learnt as Ramovic got to grips with his first-ever head coaching role.

Their original six-week pre-season program was affected by the league moving the start of the season from the 13th to the 4th of August as they looked to accommodate the intense schedule of the current season but that hasn’t affected their consistency.

“The lessons, they appeared, purely based on the workmanship we’ve seen from our technical team who joined us in October last year. Comparatively speaking, our world has changed to a new world after their arrival,” Sukazi added.

“The January AFCON break was a big blessing. That’s when our technical team had the opportunity to put down their work. Thereafter we started playing and we started seeing what they were really coming up with.

“So the manner of playing, the level of application became part of the lessons – you see the team now, compared to what it was before the coaches got here – the tactical approach and acumen amongst the players compared to then you will say we learned something from the technical aspect of the game.

“With camaraderie amongst the players, prior to the arrival, you’d say there’s a lesson, it’s a team sport, it’s a team game, we’ve got to work as a unit and work with each other. So in the field ofplay, that’s the lessons we learnt.”

Added to the impressive technical team developments, some shrewd signings were meticulously selected with the advice of Sukazi as he looked to bring in highly experienced players of the league to usher the younger generation and incoming foreign talent in the right direction.

The likes of Vuyo Mere, Bernard Parker and Sibusiso Vilakazi were roped in and he says the logic is simple, they don’t view the footballer but the individual in a holistic approach – they are not looking to relaunch careers but absorb the knowledge and supply guidance that only experience can offer on and off the field.

“TS Galaxy requires a certain type of player, a certain type of human being – to continue the cause. We’re bringing up a youthful modernised club that moves with the times – but experienced guys like Parker, Mere, Vilakazi brings a positive influence in the change room,” the former coach and agent explained.

“We didn’t bring Parker in for Galaxy, we did it for South African football, we can’t afford to lose a Bernard Parker, he has so much to contribute, I think so. We’ve seen so many legends lost to the game.

“Your Mark Fish maybe, your Lucas, maybe we see him on an advert now and then, but that’s not his trade. Lucas played the game, the experience is football so you want to keep them within the game.

“So Galaxy, we’re gathering these guys to prep them for a new life, as long as Galaxy is around we will preserve these types of legends – I think it’s a move that will help Galaxy.”

While Sukazi may not be looking to win the title, they are certainly here to ruffle a few feathers amongst the elite and with a long-term vision, they look here to stay for a while longer.

Their next challenge sees them pitted against a title-chasing Orlando Pirates who would have been wounded by their defeat to Maritzburg United at Harry Gwala.

It’s two clubs with different ambitions but with the same goal to create a playing style their fan bases can enjoy.

This will certainly make for compelling viewing at Orlando Stadium, an arena not short of controversy between the two sides in recent times… Fireworks are guaranteed on Saturday, quite possibly even before the 17h30 kickoff.