Mamelodi Sundowns star Themba Zwane wary of TS Galaxy threat ahead of league opener

Mamelodi Sundowns midfielder Themba Zwane has warned his teammates to expect a difficult encounter when they face TS Galaxy in their opening Premier Soccer League (PSL) fixture of the new campaign on Tuesday evening.

The defending champions are set to begin their league campaign at the Mbombela Stadium in Mpumalanga, with the Brazilians aiming to start their title defence on a winning note.

Sundowns have yet to play their opening PSL match this season, making the clash against TS Galaxy an important opportunity for the club to immediately establish momentum in the league.

Zwane, one of the most experienced players in the Sundowns squad, believes Galaxy will provide a stern test and has urged his teammates to remain focused throughout the contest.

The Sundowns talisman acknowledged that TS Galaxy have consistently made life difficult for the Pretoria giants in previous meetings and expects another competitive battle at the 2010 FIFA World Cup venue.

“To be honest, we have to win against them because I think every time they play against us they give us a hard time. We know it’s not going to be easy but we will fight for all three points,” said Zwane.

The experienced midfielder also revealed that Sundowns used their time in Mpumalanga to study their opponents, watching a recent TS Galaxy match in preparation for the encounter.

“Upon our arrival in Mpumalanga, we got to watch a recent TS Galaxy game so we know what to expect. Especially after what happened in our last game against them at this stadium.”

Sundowns will be hoping that their preparation pays off as they look to begin the new PSL campaign with maximum points.

The clash also carries an added significance for the Brazilians following their previous encounter with Galaxy at the same stadium, with Zwane referencing that experience as part of the team’s motivation heading into the fixture.

For TS Galaxy, meanwhile, the match presents an opportunity to frustrate the league champions once again and begin their campaign with a statement result.

With both sides aware of what is at stake, Sundowns will need to produce a disciplined performance if they are to overcome a Galaxy side that has already earned a reputation for making their meetings competitive.