Sead Ramovic lauded for competitive mentality instilled in TS Galaxy players

Speaking to SABC Sport after Monday night’s Nedbank Cup last 16 draw, which pitted The Rockets against ABC Motsepe League side D’General, Sanoka says Ramovic has instilled a culture of competitiveness in the team. 

Galaxy sold seven key players to the likes of Mamelodi Sundowns, Kaizer Chiefs, and Orlando Pirates at the beginning of the season, and the 31-year-old has explained why this has not affected the teams’ performances.

"I think our team is a small team – Sead would put it in that way, and our squad is very small, so the chances of you playing are always high because, per position, I think we only have two players," said Sanoka.

"What the coach has been doing well, and I think that has been helping us, is to make sure that whether you play week-in and week-out, the same level of thinking and applying ourselves is happening in training everyday, which is the same level we need to play at.

"So, everyone has the same mentality, because remember this is a team sport – when I'm playing and I'm not doing well, even the player that I'm up against at training, the support and messages he always shares with me always really encourages me.

"Because for him as well, when he gets his chance, it will be the same for him. So even though seven players left, there's not a big difference, you can barely tell.

"No one can see Given [Msimango] is not there anymore, or [Bathusi] Aubaas is not there, because we're replacing quality with quality – the same standard, same quality and everything."

Sanoka adds one of the things they will have to guard against in their next Ke Yona fixture against D’General is complacency, being wary that second division teams always try to rise to the occasion when pitted against top-flight teams.

"I think it's a very tricky one, we're playing against a team that has nothing to lose. They know that they're playing against a PSL club and it's a motivation for their players," he added.

"We all started there and we know how difficult it can be, and how nice it is when you are told that you are playing against TS Galaxy and you are playing in the lower division.

"So, for us as a team, we just have to control what we can, we've been doing well, we are really on a good run, and going there, we don't have to underestimate those boys; we have to give them the respect they deserve.

"Congratulations to them for reaching the last 16, but it's for us to go there and I'm hoping complacency won't kill us."

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