Galaxy among the stars
Proceeds to group stages and happy with their coach
Who would have thought that eight ( 8) years after their formation, Jwaneng Galaxy would have rubbed shoulders with some of the continent’s biggest names in football; and in fact, making it to the group stages of CAF’s elite competition was an unfathomable thought.
Jwaneng Galaxy did the unthinkable, losing 2- 0 at home only to turn up in Tanzania and overturn a three nil ( aggregate) half time score line to salvage a three all draw to advance at Benjamin Mkapa stadium, where current CAF champions league holders, Al Ahly and runners up, Kaizer Chiefs tasted defeats last season.
South African born tactician, Morena Ramoreboli has led Galaxy to their maiden appearance in the group stages of Africa’s prestigious club competition.
Ramoreboli has a history of upsetting the odds after leading Maluti FET to victory against star- studded South African football giants, Orlando Pirates in the 2013 Nedbank Cup. Earlier this year, he led South Africa as they conquered COSAFA Cup title as Bafana Bafana caretaker coach. Morena Ramoreboli, considering his own amour proper, may prove to be a little more beyond what the mining giants could cough from their pockets.
In the wake of this historic tri
umph in the preliminary round of CAF Champions League, questions on whether the gaffer will steer the Jwaneng based outfit across the continent have emerged. Although he was not keen to be drawn into discussing contractual situation of the coach, Jwaneng Galaxy Public Relations Officer, Tankiso Morake spoke fondly
of their mentor and said he is part of Jwaneng Galaxy family.
“We’ve just arrived from Tanzania, we cannot make a comment on that. He is part of the Galaxy family and we really appreciate what he has done for us. He is a smart coach, the players love him; they play for him and we hope to continue like this,” Morake said. Earlier
this year, Galaxy players and some staff members were offered promissory note as the financial muscle of the club felt the full pinch of the COVID- 19 pandemic. Mass exodus of some of their star players prompted concerns that the football project was about to collapse.
Morake was quick to remind everyone that, through their strategic plan and hard- work, their success in recent years is not a stroke of luck.
“We are not here by luck, it is through our strategies, discipline and hard- work, we wanted from the start to be amongst Africa’s top clubs, we invited the likes of Kitso Kemoeng, Bennet Mamelodi and Steven Maleka to draft strategies and help us achieve our dreams; we are building a monster. Our DNA is always to improve, our target has always been to reach the group stages of this competition,” the jubilant Morake explained.
Gape Mohutsiwa may never have played better than his display in Tanzania, scoring the third goal which eliminated Simba SC, and writing his name in the history books of the club.
This was almost a full repertoire of former Township Rollers midfielder’s qualities, driving Galaxy forward on the counter and getting at the end of Moagi Sechele’s pin point cross to score a goal that stunned the Benjamin Mkapa stadium into complete silence.
Although he was deployed to be a single pivot in front the Galaxy defense, he was a roadblock as he thwarted several Simba attempted attacks.
He looked utterly at ease inside one of Africa’s most feared stadiums with 1500 opposing fans doing their most to unsettle his nerves. Galaxy becomes the second local club to make it to the group stages of the competition, following Township Rollers’ success in 2018.