Orbit looking to give players stage to shine

Newly promoted Orbit College’s ambition this season to stay up in the Betway Premiership but at the same time coach Pogiso Makhoye wants the top flight to be a stage to showcase the ability of his players.

Orbit were promoted up at after edging Cape Town City in the post-season promotion-relegation playoffs, continuing a remarkable rise through the ranks for a side that is essentially a team from a tertiary educational institution.

They went from the third tier of South African football, which is regarded as the amateur ranks, to the top flight in the space of three seasons and Makhoye says their ambition now is to stay in the Betway Premiership.

“We cannot say that we want to win the league and we cannot say that we want to be winning the cups,” said the coach, who juggles his job as IT manager of the college with coaching the team.

“Our priority is to make sure that this team retain their status and stay in the Premier League.”

But at the same time, Makhoye insisted Orbit would not be looking to strengthen their squad with more experienced players as conventional wisdom would suggest.

“We've been doing this for the past 16 years. We have been developing players and we’ll keep doing it even if we get relegated.

“We know how we promoted the team. So, it's about giving a chance to our players, because if we feel we must sign players, how are our players going to gain experience? These young boys, they promoted this team, they deserve to play here.”

He added that it was too early in the season to judge whether this principle would prove successful.

“Last season after five games in the Motsepe Foundation Championship, we had four points but look where we ended up … we ended up being promoted.

“It’s always been our concept to give our players opportunity. We are not going to go to the market and say we want to buy experiencedd players. It's a question of giving these players exposure.

"Now this is their moment to shine. So, let's let them shine and I think they will do that. If we get relegated, it's fine, because they are the one that promoted this club,” added Makhoye.

Orbit have started the new season with three losses in their first four games and on Saturday will host TS Galaxy at Dobsonville Stadium (live on SuperSport, 8pm kick-off).