In preparation for the upcoming MTN8 campaign and the newly established Betway Premiership, TS Galaxy secured a hard-earned 2-1 victory over German side FC Augsburg at Mbombela Stadium in Mpumalanga on Saturday afternoon.
In an effort to prepare for the upcoming season at home and introduce various styles of football to the country, TS Galaxy launched a pre-season campaign, the Mpumalanga Premier’s International Cup. They invited FC Augsburg of Germany, Tanzanian giants Young Africans, and Eswatini’s Mbabane Swallows to participate in the inaugural campaign.
This was FC Augsburg’s first preseason outside of Europe in its history.
The hosts played three games against all three visitors throughout the campaign, while the Bundesliga side played two matches—winning 2-1 against the Young Africans in the opening encounter and losing 2-1 to the hosts.
Galaxy’s pre-season campaign began with a 2-2 draw against the Mbabane Swallows, followed by a 0-1 loss against Tanzanian giants Young Africans. They recovered to secure a historic 2-1 victory over FC Augsburg in the campaign’s final encounter.
Playing against a Bundesliga side that conceded 60 goals last season and finished 11th in the Bundesliga, and considering how Galaxy played last season as well as chances converted by their forwards, Sead Ramovic’s team went into the game full of confidence.
Galaxy took the lead in the 20th minute through 20-year-old winger Puso Dithejane, a former Kaizer Chiefs development youngster. Shortly before halftime, Samkelo Kabini extended the Rockets’ lead, and FC Augsburg replied in the second half with a goal from newly recruited Congolese forward Samuel Essende.
The victory will boost Galaxy’s confidence ahead of their MTN8 away game against Stellenbosch on August 4, 2024, at Danie Craven Stadium.
