Galaxy relishes CAF experience
Losses against Mamelodi Sundowns and Orlando Pirates in their early experiences of CAF’s elite competitions might have dented Jwaneng Galaxy’s confidence in their endeavor to battle for the supremacy of African club football competition. In the border between then and now, there has been impressive strides made by the Jwaneng based club in relation to becoming one of Africa’s powerhouse club.
An embarrassing 0- 2 home defeat to Tanzania’s Simba Stars was quickly forgotten when Galaxy invaded Benjamin Mkapa stadium and delivered a miracle, beating Simba SC 3- 1 in their own backyard.
Current African champions, Club World Cup Bronze medal winners Al Ahly and CAF champions League runners- up Kaizer Chiefs suffered defeats in Tanzania. Most local fans and pundits were hopeless of a possible win for Jwaneng Galaxy in Tanzania, let alone a progression to the to the group stages of Africa’s top club football competition by the Jwaneng based club— but a miracle happened.
Whilst Simba SC parted ways with their Portuguese coach, Didier Da Rossa Gomes, following the embarrassing defeat, Galaxy were glittering amongst the African stars.
A group stage draw pitted them against four times CAF champions, Esperance de Tunis, another Tunisian giants Etoile Sportive du Sahel, and Algerian champions CR Belouizdad suggested that, although it is often said that football is unpredictable, there was surely no chance for miracle that could see the local side advance to the quarter finals.
The gulf in class between Galaxy and the North African giants has been apparent in the performances of the team and the current group standings are a true reflection as the locals have managed only a single point out of possible 15.
“It is a project, in the past we were eliminated in the preliminary stages, last year we were eliminated in the play- offs. We played against big teams like Mamelodi Sundowns and Orlando Pirates and for us it was good progress in terms of our objectives. We have faced top African professional clubs, their financial muscle and model of business is very strong,” Jwaneng Galaxy mouthpiece, Tankiso Morake shared.
Morake added that for them to reach the group stages was a step in the right direction and said they have learned invaluable experience in the competition.
He highlighted that, the hardships of COVID- 19 forced them to play with a relatively young squad after some of their star players left the team for greener pastures.
Lebogang Ditsele, Thero Setsile and goalkeeper Katlego Mbise are some of the players who left the team during the tough times of a devastating pandemic.
“8O percent of our team is young players, most of them are below 25 years, and they have had a chance to compete at this level, it is a priceless experience. It was our first time at this level and we are amongst top 16 teams in Africa, there is still a lot to play for; we want to finish in a respectable position, and for us there is still a lot to play for,” he said.
Morake said the current experience at this stage will come in handy when they manage to qualify for the CAF Champions’ League group stage again in the future.
“In our failures, we have learned a lot,” buoyant Morake said.
Morake added that the executive Jwaneng Galaxy management is set to convene and come up with a refreshed strategy to play for the future following their success of the past eight ( 8) years.