Stars hoping for goals against Orbit

Casric Stars assistant coach Thabo Nthethe believes they have learned from their previous playoff experience ahead of the promotion clash with Orbit College FC at Olympia Park on Wednesday.

Kick-off is at 3pm CAT (SA, GMT+2)

CURRENT FORM:

Stars were also vying for promotion to the Betway Premiership in 2022-23 after finishing third in the Motsepe Foundation Championship, but they lost all four matches without scoring a single goal.

Bucs Mthombeni's side have since addressed those issues, bringing in Decide Chauke from Chippa United in August last year and the striker scored eight goals this season to add to the 14 he bagged last term.

Kermit Erasmus was also signed in January and the former Orlando Pirates man scored the all-important goal against Hungry Lions on the final day of the campaign to seal a 2-1 win as Stars pipped Black Leopards to third place.

The Mpumalanga outfit went unbeaten in their final four games, having also beaten Leopards (2-1) while they drew with Venda FC (1-1) and Cape Town Spurs (0-0).

Orbit were the closest challengers to Durban City, but ultimately finished five points behind the champions after being held to a 0-0 draw by Leruma United on the final day.

Pogiso Makhoye's side clinched second spot thanks to a strong finish which saw them win four of their last five outings and lose just twice since the start of 2025.

Stars won their first meeting of the season 2-0 on home soil in September before sharing the spoils in a 2-2 draw four months later.

🚨 𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐅𝐈𝐑𝐌𝐄𝐃: 𝐔𝐩𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐏𝐒𝐋 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐦𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐲-𝐨𝐟𝐟 𝐟𝐢𝐱𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞𝐬 🚨 pic.twitter.com/CSKuFIPdtf

— Official PSL (@OfficialPSL) June 5, 2025

WHAT WAS SAID:

Casric Stars assistant coach Thabo Nthethe:

"The boys are excited to be a part of the playoffs this season. We are where we are because we want promotion. This is our opportunity to showcase ourselves, and if we win the mini tournament, we'll go through. It's another chance.

"Last time, we didn't score a single goal. We had no energy and as a team we simply didn't do enough. If we want promotion, we have to score goals - and we didn't manage that.

"Kermit [Erasmus] has been brilliant for us and helped us qualify for the playoffs. We've got quality strikers who can get us goals and with the experience from last season, I expect us to do much better this time."

PLAYERS TO WATCH:

Orbit College FC - Siyabulela Mabele was instrumental in the team's promotion push, scoring 10 goals although the winger has yet to find the back of the net against Stars.

Casric Stars - Decide Chauke led the charge for Stars, bagging eight goals, but they dried up towards the end of the campaign, with his last one coming in the 1-1 draw with Baroka on 11 April.

HEAD-TO-HEAD:

Matches - 4

Orbit College wins - 0

Casric Stars wins - 3

Draws - 1