Galaxy grind through tight schedule
Kabelo Boranabi | Wednesday November 19, 2025 06:00
With fixtures piling up and long distance travel mounting, he said the victory carried more than just points.
“It is a very important win because we have a very tight schedule. We played Matebele today, Wednesday we are playing (Mochudi) Centre Chiefs, after Chiefs we are travelling again to Sowa and it is more than 700km, which makes it a very tight schedule if you ask me,” Mpatane said.
“So, games in hand are not three points. The most important thing is to take each game as it comes because we never count games in hand, we count them as they come.”
The result pushed Galaxy to second place on the log, just a point behind leaders, Gaborone United.
The defending champions, however, have played one more match than Galaxy.
Jwaneng Galaxy are three games behind the rest of the pack after their CAF Champions League commitments disrupted their early-season schedule.
The league is to take the festive and AFCON break in a fortnight and Galaxy are set to be the busiest side in the Premiership as they scramble to close the gap and balance their overloaded calendar.
On the pitch, this match was anything but straightforward. Matebele struck first through Thomas Rasebopelo in the 18th minute, firing home from a tight angle outside the box.
Galaxy were lucky not to go further behind when Chris Mwamba broke free, rounded the keeper and seemed certain to score, only for Thabo Leinanyane to produce an exceptional goal-line block.
Matebele missed a major opportunity in the 36th minute when Tebogo Kopelang brought down Mwamba in the box. Maloisane Mokhele stepped up but watched his penalty hits the upright.
The miss came back to haunt them moments before the break. A failed clearance from a free-kick fell kindly to Thabang Sesinyi, who buried the loose ball into the bottom corner to level at 1–1 with his 11th of the season.
Galaxy came off the tunnel with immediate purpose. Just seconds into the second half, Kgotso Radithongwa delivered a pinpoint cross for Omaatla Kebatho, who rose sharply to nod home for a 2–1 lead.
Matebele responded in the 56th minute through Yashe Dambe, heading in from close range to restore parity. But Galaxy had the final say in the 66th minute when poor marking allowed Dynamo Fredericks to tap in unchallenged, sealing a crucial 3–2 victory.
The teams:
Galaxy: Victor James, Bernard Kebotseng, Chicco Molefe, Thabo Leinanyane, Tebogo Kopelang, Kgotso Radithongwa, Neo Mokhachane, Manda Nongo (Keitumetse Samunzala), Onkabetse Makgantai (Omaatla Kebatho), Dynamo Fredericks (Jacob Everson), Thabang Sesinyi
Matebele: Prince Bojang, Arnold Obuseng, Motheo Floyd-Mogapi (Brighton Akanyang), Kefilwe Sekgopi, Maatla Magosha, Mompati Mbidzo, Caleb Ofori-Manu (Nthando Ncgobo), Thomas Rasebopelo (Thuto Kelefatshe), Yashe Dambe, Maloisane Mokhele (Kabelo Thomba), Chris Mwamba
Matebele 2 (Rasebopela 18th, Dambe 56th) Galaxy 3 (Sesinyi 44th, Kebatho 49th, Fredericks 66th)