Makhoye: “No Panic Button Yet” In Relegation Battle

Orbit College coach Pogiso Makhoye remains optimistic that his side can secure their Betway Premiership status, insisting there is sufficient time to escape the drop despite their recent setbacks.

Relegation would be a bitter pill for the North West-based outfit, who only recently celebrated a historic promotion from the Motsepe Foundation Championship.

However, the reality of top-flight football hit home on Monday following a 3-1 defeat to Kaizer Chiefs at Nelson Mandela Stadium. The result leaves Orbit in 15th place with 18 points from 23 matches, firmly entrenched in the relegation dogfight.

With seven fixtures remaining, Makhoye admits the road ahead is grueling but remains focused on the “six-pointers” against direct rivals.

“As I have just said, we’re in the relegation zone, but we still have seven games to play from today,” said Makhoye. 

“Some of the teams that are there, we still need to go play them. So, for us, we need to put a panic button when we lose a game against Marumo Gallants, against Magesi. But for now, we know these are the challenges that we have, and everybody in the squad knows it’s not going to be easy, it’s going to be difficult.”

Makhoye drew encouragement from his side’s opening exchange against Amakhosi, suggesting that their early-game intensity is the blueprint for survival.

“So we need to fight, and we need to be united as a team. Even on Monday, when we lost, in the first 30 minutes, you could see it’s a team with the intention to give that performance. If we can continue with the performance that we displayed in the first half, we can survive,” Makhoye added.

Orbit College now pivots to a crucial “relegation six-pointer” against Marumo Gallants at Dr. Molemela Stadium this Sunday.