Parker sees promise despite TS Galaxy’s late defeat by Mamelodi Sundowns

TS Galaxy coach Bernard Parker says his side can take encouragement from their 3-2 loss to Mamelodi Sundowns, despite surrendering a winning position in the closing stages of their Betway Premiership match at Mbombela Stadium on Tuesday.

The Rockets appeared on course for three points after striker Victor Letsoalo scored twice to put them ahead. However, a late lapse in concentration allowed Sphelele Mkhulise to score twice for Mamelodi Sundowns, who claimed all three points.

Parker acknowledged that TS Galaxy needed to manage the match more effectively, but insisted the performance also offered evidence that his team can compete with the best side in Africa.

“We take a lot of positives from this game. We played against the number one team in Africa, and we managed to go pound for pound with them. There were times where we sat back and invited pressure, and there were times where we pressed them high and forced errors and got chances as well,” Parker told the media during the post-match press conference.

The coach said the team’s determination and intensity were among the most encouraging features of the display. He also challenged his players to produce those spells of quality more consistently if they are to turn competitive performances into victories.

“The resilience, intensity and aggression that we have, I take out from the game. We’ve got a concept, and it is for us to make sure that when we play, we do it in what will make us look better and have those types of spells for a longer period in the game for us to win.”

Defensive improvement is now a priority for TS Galaxy. The Rockets have conceded five goals in their opening two matches of the season, with Parker identifying attacks from wide areas as a particular weakness.

“We’ve been working on it in terms of our defence principles, how we want to guard against the crosses, the wide entries that’s where we concede mostly,” he said.

Parker believes TS Galaxy are more secure when defending centrally, but have struggled to deal with crosses, cut-backs and players arriving from wide positions.

“Central, we are solid; it is just in wide entries where we concede a lot, and according to my analyses and my research, 67% of the goals in the PSL are scored from wide entries where there are crosses, cutbacks and players who come from wide entries.

“It seems like we need to work more on that because we do get a goal, no matter what, we will get a goal or more, whether it is open play or set play.”

He added that better communication and greater leadership would be essential as the team works to address the problem early in the campaign.

“We just need to have better communication and take more leadership in terms of seeing early. I think we will do better in our defending, but it is also a good thing identifying these things early in the season because we want to improve as we approach games.”

TS Galaxy’s next match is against Golden Arrows at Solomon Mahlangu Stadium on Sunday, 16 August.