Parker backs TS Galaxy to improve despite slow Betway Premiership start

TS Galaxy coach Bernard Parker says he is not concerned by his team’s early-season results and believes the club are moving in the right direction after collecting six points from their opening five Betway Premiership matches.

The Rockets have recorded one victory, three draws and one defeat so far this campaign. Their latest result was a goalless draw against Sekhukhune United at the Old Peter Mokaba Stadium on Saturday.

Parker rejected the suggestion that TS Galaxy had made a slow start, pointing instead to the team’s narrow number of defeats and signs of progress from match to match.

“I wouldn’t think it’s a slow start. Looking at all the teams and us pound for pound, I think we got a lot of positives out of the five games; we only lost once,” Parker told the media after the match.

“We won once and drew three, so we are on the right track, and also, we are growing game by game. The last match we won was tough, and I believe we could have won this one.

“But it is only for us to build. It’s not how you start; it’s how well you do to improve.”

The former player is in his first full season as TS Galaxy coach after taking charge towards the end of last season. Parker said he had been given strong backing by the club’s management as he works to develop the side.

He said discussions with the club’s leadership, including chairman Tim Sukazi, were a regular part of the team’s day-to-day operations and performances.

“I speak with the management as well as the chairman [Tim Sukazi] every day in terms of the day-to-day running and performance of the team. We also share ideas a lot, and of course at the end of the day we want the players to respond well, and they are responding well,” he said.

“There is a lot of excitement, and there is room for improvement.”

Parker believes the players are responding positively to the methods being introduced, despite the side still having areas to address. TS Galaxy have scored enough points to remain competitive after five fixtures, but have only won once.

Sekhukhune United’s interim coach Papi Zothwane was also encouraged by the draw, particularly after his team had gone three matches without a win. The clean sheet was viewed as an important step towards rebuilding confidence.

“I think we did well, considering that we played three games without a win. It builds our confidence going forward. We kept a clean sheet, and obviously the integration from our three games until now, the way we want the team to play, will take time,” he said.

Zothwane added that the squad was beginning to understand his expectations, although he wants Sekhukhune United to maintain greater intensity throughout matches.

“But at least the players are aware of how we want to play. In terms of performance, there are positives to take and areas for improvement that we can work on, such as playing with high intensity from start to finish.

“Those are the things that we can take as lessons going into the next game, but overall, the commitment was there, and we are happy not to have conceded a goal.”

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