The Bophuthatswana Civil Movement has blamed the North West provincial government for failing relegation-threatened Orbit College FC after the club was forced to take their crucial final Betway Premiership match against Orlando Pirates away from their home province to Mpumalanga.
Orbit who have been playing their home matches outside North West for the entire season due to lack of propert venue that matches the professional standards, will host Pirates at the Mbombela Stadium on Saturday, May 23, in what is expected to be a high-stakes encounter for both clubs at opposite ends of the table.
The North West outfit is fighting for survival in the Betway Premiership, while Pirates are desperate for maximum points to keep their 2025/26 league title hopes alive ahead of Mamelodi Sundowns.
The BCM leader, Kagiso Monyadiwa, said it was embarrassing and unacceptable for a club representing the North West in the country’s top-flight football league to play such an important fixture outside the province despite the availability of stadiums that have previously hosted elite football competitions.
Among the venues mentioned by the movement are Mmabatho Stadium, Moruleng Stadium, Olympia Park Stadium and Royal Bafokeng Stadium.
According to the BCM, the provincial government failed to improve and maintain those facilities despite Orbit earning promotion to the Premiership following a successful campaign last season.
“The province has dismally failed Orbit FC. It is painful that a club representing North West at the highest level of South African football cannot even play decisive home matches in the province because of poor infrastructure and lack of support from government,” said Monyadiwa.
Monyadiwa further argued that the province missed a major opportunity to boost local football development and stimulate economic activity through hosting top-flight matches in communities across North West.
Orbit head into the final round of fixtures occupying 15th position on the log standings with 24 points and a goal difference of minus 24. Their survival hangs by a thread as anything less than victory against Pirates could see them relegated to the Motsepe Foundation Championship. Victory against the Sea Robbers could see them move to the 14th position, and that is only if Marumo Gallants (14th on the log with 24 points on minus 17 goals) could lose their last match.
Fellow relegation candidates Magesi FC are rooted at the bottom of the table in 16th place with 21 points and a goal difference of minus 20. Should Magesi win their last match and Orbit lose to Pirates, the North West side will officially drop to the lower division. A draw for Orbit will see them fight to remain in the league via the energy draining Promotion/ Relegation Play-Offs.
For Pirates, the clash presents an opportunity to edge closer to reclaiming the Premiership crown for the first time in over a decade, setting up what promises to be a dramatic conclusion to the season.
