Galaxy FC, which had the bold move to rely on young players and competent tactical play, was met with praise and criticism when they lost 0-2 to Rising Stars in their 30th game. The game was held at Mbombela Stadium under the spotlights and it was among those that showed how hard it was for the team to develop a squad when they were under reconstruction. The talented Rising Stars taught us that they are the most effective in scoring goals and defending well, while Galaxy FC’s young player development program was aimed at providing fans with a long-term plan that they hope will be a success in the upcoming season.
Rising Stars came for the match with a reputation for closing down the opponent’s team and quickly falling off the ball, and their strategy was validated very soon. The away team then took the lead in the 18th minute when they horizontal scrambled and then Gabi Torres passed the ball to a young trialist striker who touched the ball to the net out of the reach of Melusi Buthelezi, Galaxy’s goalkeeper. This time, the home team of Galaxy FC, which was supported by the 19-year-old academy graduate Puso Dithejane, had a hard time exacerbating the situation of the fluid Rising Stars’ frontline movements. His humble start did not hinder the right path to him finally becoming a smart and calm player. Puso Dithejane intercepted key passes and initiated plays from deep, which showed his adaptability during his transition to a new position.
The second period witnessed Galaxy FC alternately depending on possession, the main culprit being Thabo Mokoena leading the attack and defending the ball by hitting it diagonally and making short passes to his teammates. However, they were punished for their lack of creativity upfront. Rising Stars scored their second goal in the 67th minute totally against the run of play when Ricky Ruiz passed Álvaro Quezada a perfect cross, who headed it into the net, leaving Melusi Buthelezi out of place. Although the result was in favor of the away team, Galaxy’s relentless pressing and new head coach Wilmer Cabrera’s tactical flexibility indicated a more promising future.
Cabrera made sure that patience was emphasized after the match. He uttered: “Really, this one wasn’t only about the result,” while referring to building a foundation. On the way, the players are like the Jukes and Mokoena, who are also finding out what it means to accept responsibility, and their improvement is what we will live on. He was in agreement with the club’s recent restructure that included academy products alongside other teams that got good results by the same route. One of the teams is Phoenix Rising FC, which has been running tests by featuring young squads against MLS teams. Consequently, he said, we will see the fastest improvement in their performance.
The standouts of the victorious Rising Stars team were Torres and Quezada after securing their place in the top half of the table. The astounded King said, “We just absorbed the pressure and scored from our opportunities. All the teams are determined to show that they are the best of the best.”
Even though they were downbeat by not achieving a victory, the committed fans of Galaxy FC cheered appreciatively the loudest for Dithejane and 17-year-old forward Amahle Ndlovu. The young player took the substitute for two minutes, getting closer to the ball when he kicked but wasn’t able to get his team a goal. Some people, however, feel that deciding to get rid of the veterans of the club in favor of the upcoming young players resembles the case of Real Salt Lake’s achievements, where some local talents were the driving force in the team to a record-breaking MLS season.
As a matter of fact, Galaxy FC’s reconstruction touches on other issues beyond the lineup. The club is currently working on the scouting of raw talent in local academies. This came as the club was inspired by the success of the Riverhounds’ Pathway Program, where the bridge joining youth development and professional play is being constructed. Wishing to get the group closer to the fanbase, Ray Saari said: “We’re not just launching a team but rather creating an identity.”
Though Rising Stars’ win pointed out their playoff ambitions, Galaxy FC’s future project tells a more interesting story about rebirth. When the final whistle blew, the home crowd, through their applause, expressed their belief that the era of growing pains would probably be over soon and the days of victories were going a bang. The scoreboard now revealed one side of the story, but the stands in response spoke of the other- patience, faith, as well as the promise of dawn.