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Orbit FC players celebrating a goal
Former Orlando Pirates and Bafana Bafana winger, Monnapule Saleng says he hopes to revive his career at his old team, the Orbit College Football Club. Saleng, who wasn’t active in football for the better part of last season, is on loan to the newly promoted North West Province team until end of the 2025/26 season. He returns to the ambitious club where he launched his soccer career four seasons ago.
Orbit College FC made history in South African football when they were promoted to the Betway Premiership late last month.
They pipped the top-flight side Cape Town City and Casric Stars in the PSL playoffs, to become the second side from the National First Division to be promoted to the Premiership.
27-year-old Saleng says his experience will come in handy at Orbit FC.
“I’m happy to be back to where it all started for me in football. I feel very emotional and expects to use my experience to add value. But it is not going to be easy to play in the Premiership,” says Saleng.
The chairman of the club Dika Mokoena, who is also the principal of the TVET college, says this is a community-based side, that belongs to the entire North West Province. He says they will do everything possible to remain in the elite league.
“Our mission is to play in the premiership league to help on uplifting the local communities in the province and giving hope to students who play football in TVET colleges,” says Mokoena.
Coach Pogiso Makhoye has been retained as mentor. He believes he has acquired the right personnel to be competitive.
“We have proved a lot of people wrong after we were labeled as chokers in recent seasons. We don’t have a big budget but aim to compete talent wise with well-established sides.”
The North West government has promised to support Orbit College to ensure they overcome all challenges.
“The team belongs to the entire North West province and will help it financially during the pre-season preparations and beyond,” says MEC for Sport Tsotso Tlhapi.
Orbit College FC is the first side from the province to campaign in the Premiership in seven years, following in the footsteps of Platinum Stars.
Plans are in an advanced stage to have the Royal Bafokeng and Mmabatho Stadiums as alternative venues, while the government has pledged to refurbish the Olympia Stadium, which is Orbit’s home ground.
