Orbit College’s maiden Betway Premiership season ended in the cruellest fashion at Mbombela Stadium on Saturday, with two own goals — one either side of half-time — handing Orlando Pirates a 2-0 win, the league title, and the visitors’ first championship in 14 years. The defeat dropped Orbit from 15th to 16th and triggered automatic relegation.
Nkomo, then Ngiba — both into their own net
It was the kind of match that defines a season. Nkomo turned the ball into his own goal moments before the interval, sucking the air out of a contest Orbit had been holding together. Ngiba then added a second own goal barely five minutes after the restart, killing the recovery before it could begin. Two Orbit defenders, two own goals, a title handed over and a Premiership status forfeited in the space of fifteen minutes either side of the break.
Magesi’s win at Seshego sealed it
Even a draw at Mbombela might have kept Orbit in the relegation play-off place. Instead, Magesi’s 1-0 win over Richards Bay at Seshego Stadium — a 48th-minute Vandala penalty doing the damage — pushed the Limpopo side past Orbit on the table and slammed the door shut. Goal difference, head-to-head, every tiebreaker in the rulebook: none of them mattered once Magesi had three points and Orbit had none.
Makhoye looks ahead to MFC
Founding head coach Pogiso Makhoye spoke with the dignity of a man who saw it coming. “Not the result we wanted,” he said, “those two mistakes changed the whole half-time talk because we conceded right when we needed to go for the break.” He refused to single anyone out: “We cannot falter these young boys, they gave a good performance and I’m proud of them.” The coach added that he was already “preparing for life in the MFC” — a club fighting back, not falling apart.
