TS Galaxy head coach Adnan Beganovic insists it is business as usual as he prepares his team for the MTN8 quarterfinal clash against Sekhukhune United at the Peter Mokaba Stadium on 2 August.
Kick-off is at 6pm CAT (SA, GMT+2)
Current form:
The Rockets qualified for the top-eight competition for the second time after achieving their best-ever finish of fifth in the Betway Premiership last term.
However, Galaxy continued their strategy of selling their best players again in the off-season, with Kamogelo Sebelebele and Lebone Seema both signing for Orlando Pirates.
Meanwhile, Dzenan Zajmovic had his contract terminated by mutual consent despite enjoying a productive debut season in South Africa after scoring seven goals for the Mpumalanga outfit.
Beganovic, who was Sead Ramovic's assistant when Galaxy lost 3-1 to Stellenbosch at the same stage of the Wafa Wafa last year, isn't too phased though, stating it's always more of a team effort at the club.
Babina Noko are making their third consecutive appearance in the MTN8, having secured fourth place in the league for back-to-back campaigns.
Eric Tinkler's side will be looking to challenge for a top-three finish this season after they were heavily active in the transfer market, bringing in the likes of Manuel Sapunga, Miguel Timm, Bradley Grobler and Sphiwe Mahlangu.
Sekhukhune haven't made it over the first hurdle either yet; they suffered a crushing 5-0 defeat to Pirates in 2023 and were narrowly beaten 1-0 by Cape Town City in 2024.
In their two league meetings last season, the Rockets ran out 3-1 victors at the Peter Mokaba Stadium on 26 November before the two teams played out to a 1-1 draw at the Mbombela Stadium on April 27.
What was said:
TS Galaxy head coach Adnan Beganovic
"If you watch the last three years, we always sell some players. We can't say they are key players because we don't have key players here, we just try to make a strong team. It's not about one player, we can't have success if we rely on certain players.
"It's a process but it is what we had in the last three years, we have the same issues but we can't complain because it is our goal every season to produce the best players to put in the market, and we enjoy that."
Players to watch:
Sekhukhune United - It will be interesting to see how much Tinkler will rely on Grobler, who is a proven goalscorer in the top flight, but is creeping up on 40 and sustained a serious knee injury in the MTN8 against the Buccaneers last year which saw him miss the opening two months of the 2024-25 campaign. The 37-year-old striker still managed four goals for a struggling Matsatsantsa side, although he only made 15 appearances.
TS Galaxy - Puso Dithejane really came on leaps and bounds last season, featuring in 27 games while contributing two goals and three assists in the process. The 21-year-old attacking midfielder's efforts earned him a call-up for the 2025 COSAFA Cup, where he helped South Africa reach the final alongside Victor Letsoalo and Sebelebele.
Head-to-Head: (Last Five Matches)
Matches - 5
Sekhukhune wins - 0
TS Galaxy wins - 3
Draws - 2