Orbit College coach Pogisho Makhoye blames concentration lapses for Mamelodi Sundowns defeat

Orbit College coach Pogisho Makhoye has attributed his team’s 2-0 loss to Mamelodi Sundowns to lapses in concentration, highlighting moments in the second half where his side allowed soft goals.

The defeat, which saw Iqraam Rayners convert a penalty and Miguel Reisinho score from open play, was played at Rustenburg’s Olympia Park Stadium.

 “We had a good game plan, especially in the first half, and applied ourselves well. But in the second half, we gave them soft goals. At one point, we were on the counter in their half and decided to go back to the keeper—that was a gift goal. And the free-kick, we had a lapse of concentration and they scored from that.”

The defeat leaves Orbit College second from bottom in the Betway Premiership standings, denting their hopes of climbing the table. Makhoye stressed that while his team had opportunities on the break, they failed to capitalize.

“In the first half, we were clinical with the breaks we were getting, but we couldn’t hurt them. We tried to pass inside the box instead of taking shots. We need to learn from this, especially when playing teams like Sundowns. We had three clear chances with Khoto and Mabele—if we were clinical, it could have been a goal,” he added.

Makhoye’s analysis highlights the fine margins between lower-ranked teams and the defending champions, emphasizing that errors at critical moments can be costly. Despite the loss, the coach is focused on improving his team’s concentration and finishing, aiming to turn future opportunities into points as Orbit College battles to climb out of the relegation zone.