TS Galaxy chairman Tim Sukazi has explained why he ordered the club’s social media team to delete a controversial graphic suggesting a possible bribe ahead of their Betway Premiership clash against Orlando Pirates.

The Rockets have become popular on social media in recent months because of their humorous posts and playful exchanges with some of South Africa’s biggest football clubs. Their social media team has targeted both Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs, attracting attention from supporters across the country.

However, one particular post involving Pirates crossed the line for Sukazi, who decided that it needed to be removed.

The now-deleted graphic was generated using artificial intelligence and depicted Pirates media officer Thandi Merafe chasing a man wearing TS Galaxy colours. Sukazi, recognisable by his trademark fedora, was also shown holding what appeared to be an envelope.

The image attracted attention because it referred to allegations of bribery that some people had raised following Galaxy’s heavy defeat against Pirates last season.

Speaking to Andile Ncube on Metro FM’s Sports Nights Amplified, Sukazi explained that the club’s social media team had created the graphic with the intention of using the previous result as material for football banter.

According to Sukazi, the team reminded him that Galaxy had lost 6-0 to Pirates last season and that people had made claims about a possible bribe. The social media team believed that referring to the incident would generate engagement because the subject was already familiar to football supporters.

Although Sukazi understood the reasoning behind the post, he felt that the joke had gone too far. He therefore instructed the team to take it down before it could create further controversy.

His explanation shows that, while TS Galaxy are willing to use humour to attract attention online, the club's chairman believes there should be limits when social media content touches on serious allegations.

Meanwhile, former Mamelodi Sundowns and Orlando Pirates midfielder Teko Modise has raised concerns about possible corruption in South African football, calling for an investigation into Pirates’ final league match against Orbit College during the 2025/26 Betway Premiership season.

Modise questioned the nature of the match, suggesting that the circumstances surrounding the game deserved closer scrutiny. He expressed concern about corruption in South African football, arguing that the encounter should be thoroughly investigated to establish whether anything improper occurred.

However, concerns and allegations should not be treated as proof of wrongdoing without supporting evidence. Any investigation would need to establish the facts before conclusions could be reached.

The discussion comes as South African football continues to face questions about transparency, accountability and the importance of protecting the credibility of the game.

For Sukazi, the decision to remove the graphic was a reminder that football banter can attract attention, but it can also create unnecessary controversy when it involves allegations of serious misconduct.

Source: IDiskiTimes