Galaxy cup final ‘start of big things to come’ says coach

TS Galaxy coach Saed Ramovic feels qualification for this weekend’s Carling Knockout final is just the start of things to come for his club, who will take on Stellenbosch in Durban on Saturday to decide the season’s second piece of silverware.

It is a second final for Galaxy, who were shock Nedbank Cup winner in 2019 when they were still a second-tier side and upset Kaizer Chiefs in the final, also at the Moses Mabhida Stadium.

But this is their first chance for silverware since owner Tim Suzaki bought the Highlands Park in 2021.

“We have reached the cup final and it's a beautiful thing,” says Ramovic, whose side overcame Mamelodi Sundowns in the first round, then Sekhukhune United and AmaZulu in the semifinal a fortnight ago.

“It means that this club, and this team, is going in the right direction. We will prepare ourselves because it's a fantastic opportunity for us. And even if we don't get a positive result, we believe in our way, we believe in how we build up the club and the team and we will have a lot of more cup finals, I'm absolutely sure about it.

“Why? Because I believe in our quality, I believe in my staff, I believe in myself that we can make it,” said the coach, who has been at the club for just over two years.

“It’s a process, especially for us as we don't have the kind of financial power like other clubs. Therefore, we have to improve young players, you have to improve the players we get.

“If in the end, if we again sell five players, that is also a great success for us, because it's not easy again to improve players. But it is also good if the best clubs constantly want players from you.”

But he said ideally it would be better is Galaxy could hold onto their best talent.

“We can hopefully be one of the best teams in the league. It is a dream but why should we not dream big?” the coach asked.