TS Galaxy ‘will cope just fine’ after selling two off its stars

Will TS Galaxy cope without two of their influential stars, Puso Dithejane and Khulumani Ndamane, in the second half of the season after selling them to US side Chicago Fire and Mamelodi Sundowns?

Galaxy coach Adnan Beganovic is convinced they’ll survive without the 21-year-olds, also shooting down the notion that the club’s business model of cashing in on their best players could lead to relegation.

“We’ve sold Khulumani to Sundowns and Puso to Chicago Fire, but we still have a good squad, full of quality. It’s still our goal to finish in the top eight, and I think we can achieve that,” he told Sowetan yesterday.

“TS Galaxy was there before Khulumani and Puso and it’ll continue to be there without them.”

The Rockets coach told how they were always a step ahead in making sure they had replacements after selling key players. “We’ve always shown that we can replace players, so I don’t think we will decline now,” Beganovic said.

“Our model is that before we sell, we prepare a player within the squad to take over. If you remember, Puso didn’t play in our last two to three games because of an injury, so we had already prepared [Junior] Zindonga to play at right wing, and he played so well that he went to Afcon with Zimbabwe.”

Beganovic suggested that Zindonga, 21, can do better than Dithejane, who scored four goals and racked up four assists in 12 league games this season.

The Galaxy coach also tipped Brazilian defender Igor Salatiel, 25, to plug the gap left by Ndamane. “Zindonga can give us something that Puso doesn’t have ... he’s a little bit faster up front and he defends well. At centre-back, remember there’s Igor, the Brazilian guy who we had already prepared in case we sold Khulumani. But, yes, we’d like to find a left-footed centre-back.

“We always have at least two quality players in each position, so if we sell, another player immediately steps up.”

Beganovic also revealed that club chair Tim Sukazi had assured him their transfer ban will be lifted before this transfer window closes at the end of the month, allowing them to register four players they’ve already recruited.

How Galaxy cashed in (recent sales)

Given Msimango to Chiefs (2023)

Melusi Buthelezi to Pirates (2023)

Bathusi Aubaas to Sundowns (2023)

Djakaridja Junior Traore to Istanbulspor, Turkey (2023)

Bradley Mojela to Stellenbosch (2024)

Fiacre Ntwari to Chiefs (2024)

Samukelo Kabini to Molde, Norway (2025)

Kamogelo Sebelebele to Pirates (2025)

Thato Khiba to Stellenbosch (2025)

Qobolwakhe Sibande to Project, Egypt (2026)

Khulumani Ndamane to Sundowns (2026)

Pitso Dithejane to Chicago, US (2026)

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