Latest news with #OrbitCollegeFC
IOL News
6 days ago
- Sport
- IOL News
AmaZulu wary of unpredictable Orbit College threat in Premiership opener
AmaZulu will open their Betway Premiership campaign with a potentially tricky home assignment against new boys Orbit College FC at the Princess Magogo Stadium on Saturday afternoon at 3pm. Arthur Zwane is under no illusions about the challenge his side faces, despite their opponents being debutants at this Usuthu mentor believes the element of the unknown makes Orbit a dangerous first hurdle. 'This is a difficult match because people haven't seen Orbit and they have seen us,' Zwane explained. 'This gives people hope that already AmaZulu [should get the better of] Orbit. But we're treating this game as we would any other, just like we did with Stellenbosch. 'We will give all the games the same respect. Yes, the approach might be slightly different because we don't play the same; their qualities and ours aren't the same. In terms of how we want to exert ourselves and the mentality, it must be the same.'
IOL News
6 days ago
- Sport
- IOL News
Great rejoicing as Orlando Pirates' prodigal son Monnapule Saleng finally plays again
Monnapule Saleng Orlando Pirates have loaned Monnapule Saleng to Orbit College FC, ending his long-standing saga and speculation about his future. Photo: Sydney Mahlangu/BackpagePix Image: Sydney Mahlangu/BackpagePix Monnapule Saleng's much-anticipated debut for Orbit College FC on Saturday at the Princess Magogo Stadium in KwaMashu will mark the return of Orlando Pirates' 'prodigal son'. Saleng is greatly admired by fans across the country, and there will be much rejoicing at his long-awaited return to competitive football. He has joined Orbit College on loan for their inaugural season in the Premier Soccer League (PSL). The loan deal comes after a tumultuous season for Saleng at Pirates, where he played a crucial role in helping the club retain the MTN8 title, but later found himself sidelined due to a fallout with management. His appearance will be one of the main talking points of the Premiership's opening round this weekend. All eyes will be on the Bafana Bafana international to see how he performs following a challenging spell that ended with his last match for the Buccaneers on December 7, 2024 against Al Ahly in a crucial CAF Champions League fixture. The decision to loan Saleng to the PSL newcomers came as a surprise to many, including former Pirates captain and club legend Lucky Lekgwathi, who voiced his concerns over the unexpected move. 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 Next Stay Close ✕ 'For me, I think he's not a small team player,' Lekgwathi remarked, expressing hopes that Saleng would reclaim his form and eventually make a name for himself at Pirates. In the Pirates documentary series GIANTS, which aired on SuperSport TV last weekend, Saleng spoke about the difficulties he faced. Coach Jose Riveiro echoed the bewilderment felt by many within the club regarding Saleng's altered demeanour, particularly following a disappointing 3-2 loss to Magesi in the Carling Knockout, where the team trailed 3-0 at half-time. When asked about the circumstances that led to him falling out of favour, Saleng cryptically remarked: 'What caused the situation? A lot of things. A lot of things happened.' The Saleng saga has captivated football fans throughout the season, creating a whirlwind of speculation and concern surrounding the player's future at one of South Africa's most storied clubs.
The South African
6 days ago
- Sport
- The South African
Revealed: Orlando Pirates' agreement with Saleng
Orlando Pirates have done a Mamelodi Sundowns, and a storm of criticism is coming. A controversial clause in Monnapule Saleng's loan deal to newly promoted Betway Premiership side Orbit College FC has emerged. The clause prevents Saleng and two other Orlando Pirates loanees at the Mswenko Boys from participating in both league fixtures against their parent club during the 2025/26 season. Saleng, aged 27, has 25 goals and 17 assists in 70 games for Orlando Pirates and was expected to be a major drawcard for Orbit College against the Sea Robbers. Kaizer Chiefs news: 25-goal Nigerian striker and Junior Khanye 'He won't be able to play, 'Orbit head coach Pogiso Makhoye confirmed on 947's MSW . 'Him, [Thuso] Moleleki and [Yanga] Madiba, so it's not only Saleng.' Orlando Pirates star Monnapule Saleng at the Orlando Stadium during the 2024/25 Betway Premiership season. Image: Sowetan Kaizer Chiefs news: Baartman, Velebayi and Ighodaro The Betway Premiership rookies, having gained promotion from the Motsepe Foundation Championship via playoffs, will start life in the top division away to AmaZulu FC on Saturday, August 9. The game against the Buccaneers will be on 26 August at the Orlando Stadium. Meanwhile, Orlando Pirates will host Sekhukhune United on the same day at 17:30. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
IOL News
04-08-2025
- Sport
- IOL News
'He wasn't there': Pirates expose Monnapule Saleng's struggles in doccie – but was it necessary?
Under the bus Orlando Pirates have loaned Monnapule Saleng (pictured) to Orbit College FC, ending his long-standing saga and speculation about his future. Photo: Sydney Mahlangu/BackpagePix Image: Sydney Mahlangu/BackpagePix Soweto giants Orlando Pirates have seemingly thrown Monnapule Saleng under the bus in their fly-on-the-wall documentary aired on SuperSport. After playing a key role for Ezimnyama Ngenkani during the 2023/24 season, Saleng was sidelined for much of last season, leading to speculation about his future. It was later reported the player was involved in a tense stand-off with Pirates over his contract, as he believed that due to his importance to the team, he should have been paid as much as the club's top earners. It was also reported that Saleng struggled with his mental health during the tough period. He was subsequently loaned to newly promoted Orbit College in hopes of rediscovering the form that once made him one of South Africa's most exciting footballers. Get your news on the go, click here to join the IOL News WhatsApp channel. The documentary focuses on the club's Carling Knockout Last 16 clash, where Pirates were beaten 3-2 by Magesi FC. At half-time, with Pirates trailing 3-0, then head coach Jose Riveiro can be heard asking: 'Do I have to do five subs? Is everybody alright? Saleng, are you alright?' After the player shakes his head, Riveiro says: 'No? Okay, out. Where is [Mohau] Nkota? Take Nkota.' Then, when narrating what happened, Riveiro says: 'The period of decision was weird, with Saleng… So he takes you to a weird space, to start to speculate if he's okay or not, if he really wants to play for the team or not. 'Because we know Saleng, we know what he's capable of doing – always ready to play, always ready to train, always delivering incredible performances. 'And we have a weird half-time, we have a weird game against Magesi in the Black Label Cup. You could see that the boy is not happy, he's just not himself. He's not the guy enjoying every action – even if he has to run to defend 60m, he enjoys the action as well. 'And he wasn't there…' When speaking about the game and the tense stand-off with the coach, Saleng said: 'What caused the situation? A lot of things. A lot of things happened.' One has to ask whether it was necessary to air the incident as it paints Saleng in a bad light. The documentary's treatment of Saleng raises serious questions about how Orlando Pirates manage internal conflicts and player welfare. Airing such sensitive moments – especially around a player's mental health – feels less like transparency and more like deflection. Instead of protecting one of their most talented assets during a difficult period, the club appears to have used the platform to distance themselves from blame. In doing so, they may have won the narrative, but at what cost to trust and morale within the squad? However, while the documentary may be criticised for airing sensitive footage, the club might argue that transparency and honest storytelling are essential to offering fans an authentic look behind the scenes. IOL Sport * The views expressed are not necessarily the views of IOL or Independent Media. ** JOIN THE CONVERSATION: Send us an email with your comments, thoughts or responses to [email protected]. Letters should be a maximum of 500 words, and may be edited for length. Anonymous correspondence will not be published. Submissions should include a contact number and physical address (not for publication). Get your news on the go, click here to join the IOL News WhatsApp channel.
The South African
20-07-2025
- Sport
- The South African
Confirmed: Orlando Pirates kicking off the new season in Orlando
Orlando Pirates will begin their 2025/26 Betway Premiership campaign with a packed August schedule that includes three home fixtures and two trips away. With the new season's expectations high as ever, the Buccaneers will be eager to hit the ground running and stake an early claim in the title race. Three of their first five opponents finished mid-table or lower last season, while one – Orbit College FC – is a newly promoted side. On paper, this gives Orlando Pirates an excellent platform to secure early points and build momentum before the league intensifies. Confirmed: Kaizer Chiefs' first five Betway Premiership fixtures Orlando Pirates coach Abdeslam Ouaddou trains his team in Marbella, Spain ahead of the 2025/26 Betway Premiership season. Image: Goal 9 August: Sekhukhune United (Home) A familiar opening challenge at Orlando Stadium. Sekhukhune finished as high as fourth place last season. Nevetheless, Orlando Pirates have to deliver a statement win in front of the Ghost. PSL club ready to sell goalkeeper to Kaizer Chiefs 12 August: Marumo Gallants (Away) Just three days later, the Buccaneers head to Bloemfontein to face an inspired Marumo side with the new French coach Lafitte Alexandre. Squad depth will be crucial here, with minimal rest between games. 20 August: Stellenbosch FC (Home) One of the best teams in the league last season. Stellenbosch FC, who finished third, will deliver with typical structure and quick football. Orlando Pirates will need control and discipline to earn all three points. 26 August: Orbit College FC (Home) A first-ever league meeting between the two sides. Orbit, newly promoted and armed with six players on loan from Orlando Pirates, will be full of enthusiasm but will face a stern test in Soweto. 31 August: Chippa United (Away) The Buccaneers close August with a visit to Gqeberha. Chippa can frustrate teams at home, so Orlando Pirates must stay sharp to avoid a slip-up against a team filled with plenty of Buccaneers on loan. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
