Log leaders Orbit remain grounded as promotion battle resumes
Despite topping the Motsepe Foundation Championship table for the better part of the first round, Orbit College still maintains their priority is safety.
The Motsepe Foundation Championship action resumes on Monday after the AFCON break.
The newcomers currently lead the race for a promotion to the DStv Premiership with 13 matches remaining. They have so far accumulated 30 points with mine wins.
ORBIT COLLEGE PLAYS DOWN PROMOTION PRESSURE
Assistant coach Kabelo Machete has told FARPost that their mandate remains to save the club’s status.
“As we had said from the start of the season, we are new kids on the block, with a very beautiful and attractive type of football which we have not changed,” he said.
“Our mandate was to reach 30 points, so with 13 games to go we are looking at getting the maximum points to be safe, yes expectations are high for reaching the safety points.”
“In the second round, or should I say in the last 13 games, people can be assured of the continuity of the beautiful style of football that we have been playing. We will run our own race of playing football without pressure.
“Players who play under pressure and stress don’t enjoy what they are doing and it thus affects their development as well. So less stress, less pressure, go and enjoy the last 13 games more than you enjoyed the first 17 games.”
WHY AFCON BREAK WAS THE MUCH-NEEDED RELIEF FOR THE MOTSEPE FOUNDATION CHAMPIONSHIP LEADERS
Machete also admits the AFCON break came as a relief for them as they had been in action since the promotion playoffs in KwaZulu Natal.
“We needed the break big time,” he added. “If you remember well, we have been playing football since the ABC Motsepe play-offs in KwaZulu Natal in June.
“The players only got two weeks off and we had to start with pre-season for the League. So it did not disrupt the momentum, it actually gave us the much-needed break.”
The club has kept the players that helped them gain promotion and recently signed Lesotho national team captain Sekgoane Moerane as well as Revaldo Fox from Dondol Stars. Promising star Monwabisi Mngqibisa has also been roped in.
Meanwhile, the Motsepe Foundation Championship will resume on Monday when La Masia hosts the University of Pretoria in Dobsonville.
FULL LIST OF MID-WEEK MOTSEPE FOUNDATION CHAMPIONSHIP FIXTURES
Monday, 12 February
La Masia v University of Pretoria
Tuesday, 13 February
JDR v Magesi FC
Orbit College v Milford FC
Upington v Hungry Lions
Casric Stars v Maritzburg Utd
Wednesday, 14 February
Marumo Gallants v VFC
Black Leopards v Pretoria Callies
Baroka FC v Platinum City Rovers
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