Bernard Parker says TS Galaxy have rediscovered their spark ahead of Sekhukhune United clash

TS Galaxy coach Bernard Parker believes his side have turned a corner after claiming their first Betway Premiership victory of the season, with renewed competition for places building ahead of Saturday’s meeting with Sekhukhune United.

Galaxy travel to the Old Peter Mokaba Stadium buoyed by a 3-2 win against Marumo Gallants at Royal Bafokeng Stadium, while their opponents are adjusting to a change in leadership after parting ways with Cedric Kaze this week.

Kaze’s departure came only a month into the campaign and has added uncertainty around Sekhukhune United, who will be led by Papi Zothwane for the first time. Parker is keen for TS Galaxy to use that disruption to their advantage, although he expects Sekhukhune’s players to show a strong response as they attempt to impress their new coach.

For Galaxy, the victory over Marumo Gallants has provided a significant lift after their slow start to the campaign. Parker says the mood within the squad has changed, with players competing more strongly for selection.

“The win over Marumo Gallants has boosted the team’s morale very high, reason why is that during the build up to our next game against Sekhukhune, there has been a lot of energy, intent, and willingness from the whole the squad, everyone is raising their hands and wanting to feature in that game. The competitiveness in the team has increased and that’s a good thing for us as coaches.”

The club also had its FIFA ban lifted shortly before the victory, allowing more players to become available for selection. That has increased the depth of the squad and, in Parker’s view, made it harder for established starters to take their positions for granted.

The TS Galaxy coach also recognises that the change in the Sekhukhune United dugout makes the match more difficult to assess. A new manager can bring different tactical ideas and methods, while players may respond with greater intensity in an effort to secure their places.

“Now that the head coach has left, it makes it a bit more difficult because some coaches have different approaches, ideas, and methods. It will be coach Papi Zothwane’s first game in charge and he might make a lot of changes, although I hope he doesn’t make too many changes. We just need to focus on ourselves and do what we know and what we do best. Sekhukhune will come with a lot of energy because the players will want to impress the new coach.”

Only one point separates the two teams in the Betway Premiership, increasing the importance of the fixture. Parker wants Galaxy to maintain the momentum generated by their win over Marumo Gallants and take advantage of any uncertainty within the Sekhukhune United camp.

For now, the focus at TS Galaxy is on building consistency. The result against Gallants ended the wait for a first league win, while the lifting of the FIFA ban and the increased competition for places have given Parker more options as his side prepare for a demanding test on Saturday.