Orlando Pirates lift-off alert: Monnapule Saleng soars back into Orbit!
It will be an emotional reunion because Saleng's loan move will be to the club where he first started his footballing journey.
Orbit College, fresh from their historic promotion to South Africa's top-flight, showcased their ability and resilience by triumphing over Cape Town City and Casric Stars in the PSL promotion playoffs. This achievement not only marked a milestone for the club but also for the North West province, which has been yearning for Premier League football after a seven-year absence.
Saleng has been absent from competitive action for most of last season. He expressed his gratitude and excitement to return to action. 'I must give thanks to the Man Above. I am happy to be back home. Orbit College is a great team that plays exciting football, and I cannot wait to be a part of that,' the 27-year-old declared in an interview with SABC Sport.
The return to Orbit College comes with a sense of nostalgia and ambition for Saleng, who is determined to leverage his experience for the benefit of the team. He is ready to play a role under the guidance of coach Pogiso Makhoye.
Reflecting on his decision to return, he said, 'It wasn't an easy decision to return home, especially after a long season without playing. During this difficult time, I kept on pushing and waited for my opportunity; unfortunately, that did not arrive until Orbit College came calling.'
He noted that many of his new teammates were encouraging him during his tough times at Pirates, solidifying the homecoming feel he had encountered.
Selecting Orbit College for his career revival is more than just a strategic move; it is a heartfelt return to his roots. He spent four crucial seasons at the club previously and now aims to utilise his accumulated experience to have a positive impact on the squad.
'I feel very emotional, and I expect to use my experience to add value. But it is not going to be easy to play in the Premiership,' he admitted, acknowledging the considerable challenges that lie ahead.
Under Makhoye's stewardship, Orbit College aims to establish itself as a formidable contender in the top tier. The ambitious coach noted, 'We have proved a lot of people wrong after they called us chokers in recent seasons. We do not have a big budget, but we aim to compete talent-wise with well-established sides.'
As plans advance to secure alternative venues such as the Royal Bafokeng and Mmabatho Stadiums, alongside the refurbishment of the Olympia Stadium, Orbit College is set to create an engaging home atmosphere for fans eager to witness their journey in the Premiership.
The excitement surrounding the club is palpable as they embark on what promises to be an exhilarating debut season.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
TimesLIVE
2 hours ago
- TimesLIVE
Sundowns stars beef up who's who of has-beens in Bafana's Chan squad
The South African Football Association has announced the Bafana Bafana squad that will take part in the African Nations Championship (Chan) for local-based teams in East Africa in August. There are a number of recognisable names in the 25-player squad but the amount of players labelled as 'unattached' is an indication of the challenge assembling a local-based national combination to compete in the finals. Almost half the squad — 12 players — are without a club. There are some well-known names among those, though some read like a who's who of has-beens. Unattached players include former Mamelodi Sundowns and Kaizer Chiefs star Keagan Dolly and former Orlando Pirates striker Zakhele Lepasa and former Bucs midfielder Ndabayithethwa Ndlondlo. Other blasts from the past are former Pirates and Bloemfontein Celtic forward Menzi Masuku, former Pirates fullback Wayde Jooste, and former Pirates, Mamelodi Sundowns Richards Bay forward Thabiso Kutumela. Sundowns contribute many of the more current names, though many of these are fringe performers at the Pretoria giants and some have been reported to be on their way out of Masandawana.
The South African
4 hours ago
- The South African
The PROS and CONS of Relebohile Mofokeng staying for another season
Before the end of last season, Orlando Pirates star Relebohile Mofokeng was already tipped for a move to Europe. With just over a week until the MTN8 competition resumes, the 20-year-old is still with the Buccaneers. He recently toured with the team to Spain for their pre-season training, where he scored two goals in four matches. With eyes on him this transfer period, it was his teammate Mohau Nkota who left the club to join Saudi side Ettifaq. There were rumours that Relebohile Mofokeng could join his former teammate, but nothing has yet materialised. The speedy winger had a good season with Pirates and even earned a few caps for Bafana Bafana in the process. The Pros If Rele stays another season, he can always leave in January. With Bafana Bafana set to play in the Africa Cup of Nations, the youngster will have a chance to showcase his potential. A good Afcon will attract interest from top teams in Europe, making him not only South Africa's biggest player but Africa's valuable star. Another six months can shape him as a better player and increase his price tag from R30 to R100 million. A European move is still on the cards, and if he maintains his form, he will play in the top five leagues, no doubt. The Cons At this moment, Mofokeng is enjoying his football and is eager to leave. If he stays, he might feel demotivated and with Oswin Appollis playing in his position, he will likely switch to the right. Having played mostly on the left, a new role might not suit him well. Another thing that can derail him is injury. Relebohile Mofokeng has never suffered a serious injury but if that happens, he might miss the Afcon and that could have an effect on him. His season could be disrupted by him failing to move, injury, playing out of position etc. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 0211. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
IOL News
4 hours ago
- IOL News
Exclusive: Edward Motale tips Pirates to finally end Mamelodi Sundowns' PSL dominance
COACH Abdeslam Ouaddou;s experience of playing in top leagues is expected to help him at Orlando Pirates. | Orlando Pirates Image: OP/Facebook ORLANDO Pirates legend Edward Motale is confident that the Soweto giants have done enough in the current transfer window to not only mount a serious challenge against Mamelodi Sundowns, but to bring an end to the Pretoria-based side's dominant reign at the top of South African football. The Buccaneers have not lifted the league title since the 2011/12 season, but after pushing closer to the top during the previous campaign than they have in recent years – even though they ultimately finished 13 points behind champions Sundowns – there's a renewed sense of optimism in Orlando. A large part of that comes from their activity in the market, with several new signings boosting hopes that they can go all the way this time. Pirates will also head into the new campaign under new leadership following the departure of head coach Jose Riveiro to Egyptian giants Al Ahly at the end of last season. Moroccan tactician Abdeslam Ouaddou has already taken over, and he has inherited a team that reached the semi-finals of the CAF Champions League and also played in the Nedbank Cup final. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ Despite missing out on silverware in the final stretch – with only the MTN8 trophy to show for their efforts – the team showed significant progress, and expectations are once again high for the upcoming season. Motale, a former Bucs defender who played a key role in the club's historic 1995 CAF Champions League-winning side, believes that Pirates have what it takes to not only compete with Sundowns but to finally surpass them. 'The club knows where they went wrong last season,' Motale told Independent Newspapers. 'Before the coach left, he even admitted that they were too confident in certain matches and dropped points against so-called smaller teams – that's where they lost the title. 'The fact that they've already acknowledged what cost them shows a team that's learning and growing. That gives me the belief that this season they won't just be challengers – they will go all the way and win the league.' The Sea Robbers recently concluded a pre-season tour in Spain, which gave new coach Ouaddou a valuable opportunity to assess his squad in competitive conditions. The trip also allowed him to experiment with combinations and get a clearer picture of the team's depth heading into what could be a demanding campaign. Motale praised the value of the tour, saying it gave many players a chance to prove themselves while also helping the coaching staff make informed decisions ahead of their MTN8 title defence. 'I saw the last two matches of the tour,' Motale continued. 'You can't judge too much from only a few games, but it was important for every player to get game time. 'It was also an opportunity for the coach to see who fits where, to try out combinations. 'I don't think he'll struggle with a large squad. In fact, I suspect that even in those four matches, he has already figured out a few preferred combinations and maybe even his best starting eleven. 'He played at the highest level, and when someone has that kind of experience, it doesn't take long to spot your top players. He'll know who to go with.' The Buccaneers will kick off the defence of their MTN8 title against Polokwane City on August 2 at the Orlando Stadium, with the league season set to begin soon after.
