TS Galaxy will be looking to continue its fine run in the Nedbank Cup as the club faces amateur side Jacksa Spears in their quarterfinal matchup at the Solomon Mahlangu Stadium in KwaMhlanga on Sunday.
Kick-off is at 3pm CAT.
CURRENT FORM
TS Galaxy secured its spot in the quarterfinals with an emphatic 2-0 victory over Mamelodi Sundowns, with teenage debutant Siphamandla Ngwenya netting the opener before Junior Zindoga doubled the hosts’ lead from the penalty spot.
Despite their success in the Nedbank Cup, the Rockets have struggled in the Betway Premiership.
They have lost all five of their last league games and will be looking to build momentum with an important win on Sunday.
Jacksa Spears is the only team left in the knockout tournament from South Africa’s amateur ranks, the ABC Motsepe League.
The team has not faced a true test yet, only meeting teams from its same level in the competition so far having dispatched FC Cardinals and Vasco da Gama.
They will be eager to test their mettle against opposition from the top division and cause an upset to advance.
TEAM NEWS
The Rockets will be without head coach Adnan Beganovic, who is serving a suspension for yellow cards accumulated and will miss the fixture.
WHAT WAS SAID
TS Galaxy assistant coach Bernard Parker knows his side are in for a tricky encounter but feels confident about taking another step towards the final.
“Our preparations currently, is just for us to make sure that we get back to basics, get back to being at the right mental levels in terms of how we have been working on what we have built to get us this far, both within the PSL and the Nedbank Cup,” said Parker, speaking at the pre-match press conference.
“It will be a very tricky fixture with Jacksa Spears, but we have done our homework, and they’ve done their homework, and we all know what can happen and what has happened in the past with the Nedbank Cup. We are also well aware that we have a strong possibility of going all the way to the final."
PLAYERS TO WATCH
TS Galaxy - Seluleko Mahlambi has impressed for the Rockets this season. The 21-year-old has bagged eight goal contributions in the Betway Premiership this season and will be looking to leave his mark on the Nedbank Cup.
Jacksa Spears - Moeti Mofokeng left his mark on the Nedbank Cup in the first round, scoring twice off of the bench in extra-time to power his side past FC Cardinals. He started in the victory against Vasco da Gama and will be eager to get his name on the scoresheet against top-flight opposition.
HEAD-TO-HEAD
This will be the first meeting between the two sides.