Adnan Beganovic discusses the reason for Khulumani Ndamane's absence against Sundowns! | OneFootball

A key player was absent from TS Galaxy's lineup against Sundowns.

Adnan Beganovic discusses the reason for Khulumani Ndamane's absence against Sundowns!

TS Galaxy's Head Coach, Adnan Beganovic, has broken his silence regarding the unexpected omission of defender Khulumani Ndamane from their recent high-stakes encounter. The Rockets narrowly fell 1-0 to the reigning champions, Mamelodi Sundowns, in a Betway Premiership battle at Loftus Versfeld, with a solitary goal from Arthur Sales sealing their fate.

Despite the loss, Galaxy mounted a formidable challenge, testing Sundowns' defense and creating several clear opportunities. However, they found themselves repeatedly thwarted by the exceptional goalkeeping of Bafana Bafana captain Ronwen Williams, who stood as an impenetrable barrier.

All eyes, however, were on the absent Khulumani Ndamane. The centre-back, who joined the Mpumalanga side on a free transfer in July 2024 after his departure from Kaizer Chiefs' development structures, has become a key figure for the team. His name has also recently been circulating in connection with a potential move to the very Tshwane giants he missed playing against.

Coach Beganovic moved to clarify the situation, dispelling speculation by attributing Ndamane's absence to a medical decision rather than tactical choice or transfer rumors. He revealed that the player, along with teammate Macbeth Mahlangu, sustained knocks during their previous match against Stellenbosch FC.

"It was a matter of not wanting to risk either player," Beganovic explained, emphasizing a cautious long-term strategy. "We could have pushed them to play, but that might have aggravated the injuries. In consultation with our medical and coaching staff, we agreed that protecting them for the crucial final three matches before the AFCON break was the wiser course of action. This also presented a valuable opportunity to assess the capabilities of other players within the squad."