Lehlohonolo Mojela is making a habit of this. Two clinical finishes, three precious points, and Sekhukhune United have gate-crashed the top three on the Betway Premiership log after dismantling a desperately out-of-form Orbit College 2-0 at the Peter Mokaba Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
Babina Noko are flying under Eric Tinkler’s guidance, notching a ninth win from 18 league matches to leapfrog both AmaZulu FC and Kaizer Chiefs in one fell swoop. Yes, they’ve played at least one game more than any other team in the top five, but Tinkler won’t lose sleep over fixture congestion when his side are collecting points with this kind of ruthless efficiency.
For Orbit College, the nightmare continues. This marks a seventh defeat from their last eight matches across all competitions, a wretched run of form that has seen the Mswenko Boys plummet to second from bottom. They haven’t tasted victory since defeating bottom-placed Magesi FC back in November, a distant memory now as the relegation trapdoor creeps ever closer.
Sekhukhune set the tone from the opening whistle, claiming the lead inside 120 seconds with a goal that exposed Orbit’s defensive frailties in brutal fashion. A straightforward clearance turned into chaos as the visitors dithered on the ball, allowing Shaune Mogaila to pounce and tee up Mojela, who swept home a low shot with predatory instinct. 1-0, and the Peter Mokaba Stadium erupted.
The hosts nearly doubled their advantage in the 10th minute when Daniel Cardoso rose highest to meet a right-flank delivery, though his header whistled agonisingly wide of the target. It was a warning Orbit failed to heed.
To their credit, the Mswenko Boys eventually found an attacking rhythm as the first half progressed. Yanga Madiba created a fine chance just before the half-hour mark, running onto a ball over the top down the left before stabbing a volley across the face of goal that narrowly evaded teammates lurking in the six-yard box.
Madiba proved Orbit’s most dangerous outlet, doggedly getting free down the left late in the first half before whipping in a cross that found Mbulelo Wagaba. The Orbit forward connected with a volley but blazed high over the target, a chance that would haunt them come full-time.
The second stanza became a war of attrition, with clear-cut chances at a premium. Sekhukhune defended resolutely, absorbing Orbit’s sporadic pressure whilst probing for the killer blow. It arrived in the 74th minute, and it was worth the wait.
Substitute Tshepo Mokoane embarked on a powerful run that stretched Orbit’s backline, before Vusimuzi Mncube delivered an intelligent pass that sliced open the defence. The ball fell kindly for Mojela, who rounded goalkeeper Cyril Chibwe with composure before steering the ball into an empty net. 2-0, game over, three points secured.
Tinkler’s side are now firmly in the hunt for continental qualification, their ascent up the table a testament to tactical discipline and clinical finishing. With fixtures piling up, squad depth will be tested, but momentum is a powerful ally in this relentless league.
