Tim Sukazi is being himself, and running his own race

Tim Sukazi is the drummer of his destination. The fact that he’s either out with the players or the fans on match-day beating his drums, personifies what he’s all about.

Sukazi turned from an agent to a football administrator when he formed his own club, Tim Sukazi Galaxy, 10 years ago before buying a status in the NFD in 2018.

The club succeeded in just one season in the NFD in 2019, becoming the first lower ranked side to win the country’s elite domestic cup competition, the Nedbank Cup.

And since then, Sukazi never looked back. He ensured that he quenched his thirst of getting a seat at the main table, buying the elite status of Highlands Park in 2020.

Like a man running his own personal fiefdom and wanting to show off that he’s swimming with the big fishes, Sukazi made some bold moves.

He incredibly took the entire team for camp to Turkey during the January break in 2022, something that backfired badly as the club was left without money – to even pay players.

Of course, those who felt that he was out of his depth and was better off as an agent than an administrator, thought that he’d eventually sink and never get up.

But Sukazi proved that he’s a tiger himself – a cat with nine lives. Sukazi learnt from his mistakes to build what is one of the fastest growing brands in local football nowadays.

His foundation was laid when he roped in an unknown figure, Sead Ramovic to hold the reins after a string of poor construction under local, well known coaches.

Ramovic built Galaxy to not only become a manufacturer that cut raw diamonds and turned them into polished gemstones, but a formidable side that was on an upward trajectory as well.

Given Msimango, Bathusi Aubaas, Tshegofatso Nyama, Fiacre Ntwari, Bradley Mojela and Melusi Buthelezi are some of the players that were sold locally after honing their craft under Ramovic.

The 46-year-old had grown into the league, before his abrupt departure this season, so much so that he had left the side a top eight team, thanks to the growing belief within the squad.

And like a man running his own spaza shop, Sukazi didn’t change his supplier in this technical team when Ramovic left, instead he appointed the latter then assistant Beganan Beganovic as the new coach.

Beganovic has fitted in comfortably in the shoes of his former superior so much that Galaxy are banging on the top-three spot – they are fourth, and level on (35) points with the third-placed Stellenbosch.

The manufacturing of polished gemstone hasn’t stopped in the back either. Galaxy sold defender Samukelo Kabini for a club record-transfer fee to Norway-based side Molde earlier this week.

This week could have also gotten better for the Rockets had Khulumani Ndamane had a passport as he was called-up to Bafana Bafana’s final squad for the ongoing World Cup qualifiers.

Like the confident man he’s been since things started to work out, Sukazi argued that Ndamane would have had a passport by the time Bafana jets to Ivory Coast to face Benin next Tuesday.

His character might seem as if it personifies arrogancy. But those that have dealt with Sukazi long enough will tell you that’s just the man he is.

He doesn’t easily pull away from speaking his own mind. Perhaps, that’s why he’s lulled Kaizer Chiefs to listen to him whenever he dangles a juicy carrot in front of them.

Also, that could be one of the reasons why many of his counterparts in the PSL's BoG voted him into the PSL exco committee during the NSL quadrennial general meeting last year.

Being an exco member aligns with Sukazi’s vision of one day leading the biggest football brand on the continent, the PSL, though he’s still eager to learn from those who were there before him.

And so, should he continue to show the same passion and dedication in his club and exco committee like he does when’s drumming on match-day, he could very well achieve whatever he desires.