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Galaxy and Arrows brace up for top-eight showdown

football16 February 2024 14:40| © Backpage TXT
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TS Galaxy @ Backpagepix

As teams vying for a place in the top eight of the DStv Premiership this season, TS Galaxy and Golden Arrows will resume their league campaign with a mouthwatering fixture at the Mbombela Stadium in Mpumalanga on Sunday evening.

Kick-off is at 5:45pm CAT (SA, GMT+2)

CURRENT FORM

The Rockets have been one of the busiest clubs during the PSL break and played a total of four friendly matches during the month of January.

Sead Ramovic and company will hope to maintain the positive momentum showcased shortly before the PSL break, where TS Galaxy bagged back-to-back victories against Arrows and Chippa United respectively.

The wins against Abafana Bes’thende and the Chilli Boys was the first time the Rockets claimed two wins in succession in the league this season.

TS Galaxy are currently in ninth position on the table and accumulated 21 points from 15 matches played so far.

As for Arrows, Mabhuti Khenyeza and company struggled to find form before the recent break, recording one victory in their last handful of matches in the league.

Prior to their 3-0 win against Moroka Swallows last time out, Abafana Bes’thende recorded four consecutive defeats against Cape Town City, Chippa United, Orlando Pirates and upcoming opponents, TS Galaxy.

Following their poor run of results, Arrows dropped down to seventh position on the log after 16 games played.

WHAT WAS SAID

"We want to prepare the team how we want to play tactically and also how we want to look tactically, that's very important,” TS Galaxy assistant coach Adnan Beganovic said in preparation for their return to PSL action.

"If you want to play the big teams like Kaizer Chiefs, [Mamelodi] Sundowns and every big team in our league we need to fix everything especially how we look and how we play tactically for every game."

“I think they will add a lot of value, the good part is that they started with us on the first day of this mini pre-season,” Arrows coach Mabhuti Khenyeza said on the club’s signings during the January transfer window.

“And then we tried by all means to add to the positions where we thought we needed to beef up a bit. Good players, experience, it’s only that they [have] to try by all means to adjust.

“We are also trying to help them adjust to the club and the style of play and understanding.

“But football has one language, defence and attack. But it’s only that we need to understand the dynamics and the identity of how we play.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

TS Galaxy: Samir Nurkovic – Utilized largely as an impact player this season, Nurkovic remains an integral part of Ramovic’s attacking department. The Serbian could look to trouble a shaky Arrows defence this weekend, whether it be from the start or as a late substitute.

Golden Arrows: Bradley Cross – The industrious full-back has been an ever-present figure for Arrows this season, playing in 13 out of 16 DStv Premiership fixtures so far. Able to bomb up and down the left-flank, Cross could be an effective tool for his side in both areas of the pitch this weekend.

HEAD TO HEAD (Last five DStv Premiership meetings)

Matches – 5

TS Galaxy wins – 2

Golden Arrows wins – 0

Draws - 3

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