Sukazi backs TS Galaxy to extend perfect cup record against Kaizer Chiefs

TS Galaxy chairman Tim Sukazi believes his side can cause another cup upset when they face Kaizer Chiefs in the Carling Knockout first round at FNB Stadium on Tuesday (19:00).

The Rockets have won both of their previous cup meetings with Chiefs, giving them a 100% record against the Soweto club in knockout competitions.

Their first victory came in the 2019 Nedbank Cup final in Durban, when TS Galaxy were still a second-tier club. They secured a 1-0 win over Chiefs in a result that caused a major surprise in South African football.

The teams met again in the Nedbank Cup in 2022, this time in the last-32 stage at FNB Stadium. TS Galaxy repeated the scoreline with another 1-0 victory, despite being bottom of the league at the time.

Sukazi has used those results to underline his belief that TS Galaxy can defeat Chiefs for a third consecutive time in a cup match.

“Exciting match. They’ve never beaten us, by the way, in a cup match. So, that’s a starting point,” Sukazi said this week.

“Whether we are in the NFD or PSL (top-flight), as we speak, we are proud holders of one trophy, and we won it while we were in the NFD against Chiefs.

“Indeed, we also met in the Nedbank Cup (in 2022), and we were able to beat them at Soccer City, and at that point in time, we were number last on the log.”

Sukazi said those previous encounters had helped create an intriguing contest, but stressed that his team would approach the match with the intention of progressing.

“So, that makes it a very exciting game. We will be coming out there wanting to win this game,” he said.

Although he recognised the pressure on Chiefs to challenge for silverware, Sukazi insisted TS Galaxy would not enter the match defensively or intimidated by their opponents’ status.

“They are a big club and they would want to win a cup. I think it’s one of their written mandates: be it you are a coach or a player at Kaizer Chiefs, you should win a title,” he said.

The TS Galaxy chairman added that his own club would show the same self-belief that has helped them overcome Chiefs in the past.

“So, we are TS Galaxy, and we have our own levels of arrogance. We are going there to win. We are not going to Soccer City to come out as losers,” Sukazi said.

“We want to stay in the cup; we want to win the cup.”