Coach Adnan Beganovic hasn't held back after The Rockets' ninth league game without a win, citing "psychological fragility" as the main culprit. Photo: Itumeleng English Independent Media
Image: Itumeleng English Independent Media
TS Galaxy head coach Adnan Beganovic has pointed to mentality and pressure as the key reasons behind his side’s alarming nine-game winless run in the Betway Premiership.
Speaking after their latest defeat to Kaizer Chiefs on Sunday, Beganovic did not shy away from addressing the psychological fragility he believes has crept into his squad during the second half of the season.
“I think everything is in the head now, some people can accept and handle pressure whilst others can’t and some can’t stay focus for 90 minutes,” he said.
Galaxy’s struggles have left them in 12th place on the standings — six points clear of the relegation zone, but equally six points adrift of the top eight. It is a position that reflects inconsistency rather than crisis, yet the trajectory remains a concern with the season entering its decisive phase.
What makes their league form even more puzzling is the stark contrast with their cup performances. The Rockets have been near flawless in the Nedbank Cup, conceding just once on their way to the final, where they will look to salvage silverware in three weeks’ time.
Beganovic acknowledged that the drop-off has been noticeable since the turn of the year.
“If we look at the start of the second round in January, we played well one game against Marumo Gallants and after that we dropped down but we also lost Puso (Dithejane) and (Khulumani) Ndamane but this is no excuse.”
Injuries and personnel disruptions may have played a role, but the coach was clear that they do not fully explain the dip. Instead, the focus remains on concentration levels and the ability to manage pressure across 90 minutes — an area where Galaxy have repeatedly fallen short.
Despite the poor run, there appears to be stability behind the scenes. Beganovic revealed ongoing discussions with club owner Tim Sukazi, with both aligned on the need to address the situation proactively.
“I speak with him obviously, the situation in the league is not good for us. I’m positive but he’s more positive, so the discussion are mostly about what we need to do for the rest of the season and also what we’ll do at the end of season to repair the squad
"It’s not only physically that we need to repair, we need to bring in players with a winning mentality to improve the squad and have more fight.”
That last point may prove the most telling. For a team capable of shutting down opponents in knockout football, the issue appears less about structure and more about mindset. With a cup final on the horizon and league form still stuttering, Galaxy find themselves at a crossroads — one that may ultimately define how this season is remembered.