Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos and Orlando Pirates‘ Jose Riveiro have offered their candid assessments of rising star Relebohile Mofokeng, revealing their insights on his potential for international football.
The teenage sensation has drawn the keen attention of the two influential figures in the local game. On Thursday, the same day Mofokeng received his first call-up to the national team, both Riveiro and Broos took the opportunity to publicly discuss the young player’s strengths and potential.
The Belgian, Broos, named his final 23-man squad to face Nigeria and Zimbabwe for the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers in June. Mofokeng made the grade and could make his international debut in either of the two matches.
The 19-year-old has had a stellar season with the Soweto giants becoming a key player in the team. The School of Excellence prodigy has made 37 appearances in all competitions. He has scored four goals and provided six assists. His performances have thrust him ahead for the PSL Young Player of the Season and Nedbank Cup Most Promising Player accolades.
JOSE RIVEIRO ON RELEBOHILE MOFOKENG’S FIRST BAFANA BAFANA CALL-UP
Riveiro observes Mofokeng’s hunger for growth, noting his ambition to master every facet of the game.
“Rele is exceptionally smart, I don’t think there’s going to be an extra anything, extra pressure or extra confidence,” Riveiro told journalists.
“He just wants to play football, that’s what he wants, just play. Anything else is a consequence of his performances. He knows the road, he knows the way to do it. If it’s something coming from his coach or the expectations, I think he’s confident to play football, at the same time maybe he’s getting the attention of the opponent.
“As much as you get more people to talk about you, the opponent is going to put more attention on you. You have to show that you can overcome that obstacle, that challenge.
“The opponents will be planning because of you. That’s where Rele is right now, that process of developing his football, trying to be complete.”
HUGO BROOS SAYS MOFOKENG HAS SOMETHING UNEXPLAINABLE
The Belgian mentor, effusive in his praise for Mofokeng, revealed he’s had his eye on the young talent. Broos declared with conviction that Mofokeng is ready for the Bafana challenge.
“With young players, you have to always be a little bit careful from the first moment when he played for Pirates everybody saw that ‘okay wow’ that’s a guy with quality,” Broos said on SABC Sport.
“You can have a very good period and a down period, but with him, there was no down period every game he was there.
“He has something you can’t explain, but he is always there. He is not only doing his offensive work, he is also doing defensive work. We are not asking for defending and tackling, no, positioning he is good.”
“We analysed him very well. I think it would be [mistaken] for me not to take him with us now. Even if he is only 19, even if he doesn’t have international experience one day he will have to take the international experience we will see.
“He will not be with us a standard player. Maybe when things don’t go well in a game, you can put him in the last 20 minutes. Maybe he is some guy who can force something.”
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