Orbit College coach Pogiso Makhoye explains how Saleng sale forced Bradley Ralani comeback

Orbit College head coach Pogiso Makhoye has revealed how the sudden sale of Monnapule Saleng to Mamelodi Sundowns triggered the club’s decision to bring veteran winger Bradley Ralani out of retirement.

Speaking at a press conference on Monday following Orbit’s 2–0 Betway Premiership defeat to Sundowns, Makhoye admitted the move came as a shock and left his technical team scrambling for solutions.

“Saleng (transfer) caught us by surprise, we really didn’t expect it, and now we see he’s been sold to Mamelodi Sundowns and we’ve been planning with him all along,” said Makhoye.

Saleng had been central to Orbit’s attacking blueprint this season, with much of their structure designed to maximise his pace, direct running and creativity in wide areas. His abrupt departure, the coach explained, was immediately felt on the pitch.

“You could even see today (Monday) that we struggled without him because our gameplan was mainly around Saleng,” he added.

With little time to reshape their tactical identity mid-season, Orbit opted for an unconventional but calculated solution. Ralani, now 38, had officially retired from professional football in November 2025, with Cape Town City confirming his decision. 

He had since taken up a coaching role as the head coach of Gaza United in the Northern Cape ABC Motsepe League.

However, the lure of top-flight football — and Orbit’s need for experience and flair — brought him back.

“I think because of the type of football we are playing and knowing we were losing Saleng, we needed someone who can provide a bit of magic, someone good at 1v1s and committing players,” Makhoye explained.

Ralani was introduced in the second half against Sundowns, marking a remarkable return to competitive football against one of his former clubs. 

While the result did not go Orbit’s way, Makhoye believes the decision will prove valuable as the season progresses.

“We sat down with Ralani because we also felt he hadn’t left  football the right way, he still has football left in him and he has the football brains and he fits our system so that’s why we signed him,” he said.

Beyond replacing Saleng’s qualities, the coach stressed that survival in the Betway Premiership requires leadership and composure — traits Ralani brings in abundance.

“We also needed players that will come with experience and help the team to survive,” Makhoye concluded.

For Orbit, the loss of Saleng has forced a recalibration rather than panic. 

In turning to Ralani, they have leaned on football intelligence, creativity and experience — a reminder that in a demanding league, solutions sometimes come from unexpected places.